President William R. Greiner's announcement of his plans to resign the office of the president took some by shock early this year and left many wondering what his - and UB's - future will be.
Greiner said he plans to remain at UB as a professor in the School of Law, where he served prior to his administrative positions within UB.
"I always said I would not retire as president," Greiner said. "And when I retire - when I finally retire from this place - it will be as professor."
After 23 years at UB - 13 of them as president - Greiner said he felt it was time to move on to the next step in his life.
"That's a long time," he said. "That's a good run, so let's do what I said I was going to do."
The announcement of Greiner's resignation prompted both a national search for UB's 14th president and wide speculation that it will be Provost Elizabeth Capaldi.
Capaldi said she was flattered that people approached her after Greiner's announcement but that it was a time to remember Greiner's achievements, not speculate on the next president.
"I also would be not a straightforward, honest person if I didn't say of course I would be honored," she said.
"It's a terrific institution, and Buffalo is poised to really move forward," Capaldi added. "People asked me - and a number of people asked me - but it's not going to be up to me."
Ultimately, the decision rests in the hands of the SUNY Board of Trustees, but the candidates are selected by UB's search committee, which consists of members of the UB and Buffalo communities.
"I might not even be in the first cut," Capaldi said, with a smile. "I never count on anything. I never worry about a job until someone offers it to me."
Jennifer Tuttle, the University Council's student representative and a member of the presidential search committee, said she hopes her perspective as a student will help choose the qualities of Greiner's successor.
"UB needs a president that will be very visible, realizes the growth potential, and will bring us to the next level," said Tuttle.
Greiner has said that though his official retirement date is June 30, he will remain in the office until his successor has been selected to ensure there is no interim president and that the transition will be seamless.
However, on Talk of the University, Greiner's monthly call-in show on WBFO, Greiner said he did not know when he would be packing up his office in Capen Hall.
"Who knows?" Greiner said. "I may be back here next September."
-Reported by Erin Shultz, Paul Eppolito and George Zornick
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
