March 3, 2010. School’s sixth leader is second woman to hold the job, UCF Provost Terry Hickey bows out at last minute.

Statement From new FAU President Mary Jane Saunders
March 3, 2010. 9:09PM EST.

To the Florida Atlantic University Community:

My name is Mary Jane Saunders, and I’m so proud to say that I have been selected to serve as the president of Florida Atlantic University. I’d like to express my thanks to the Board of Trustees for conferring this great honor upon me and declare my readiness to assume the high responsibility of leading this remarkable institution as its sixth president.

Over the past few days, I’ve had the opportunity to meet many members and friends of the FAU family, and I greatly appreciate the warm welcome that’s been extended to me by everyone. I already feel part of this vibrant academic community, and I’m looking forward to working with all of you to take this great institution to even higher levels of excellence in teaching, research and community engagement. Read more at sun-sentinel.com.

Cleveland State Provost Saunders tapped as new FAU president
By Samantha Frank
March 3, 2010

BOCA RATON — Florida Atlantic University selected Mary Jane Saunders, provost of Cleveland State University, as its sixth president Wednesday evening by a unanimous vote of the 13-member board of trustees.

“This institution is just poised for greatness,” Saunders, 59, said at a welcome reception on FAU’s Boca Raton campus Wednesday night. “I’m very eager to get involved right away.”

Former President Frank Brogan left FAU in September to become chancellor of the state university system. Since then, John Pritchett, who was provost under Brogan’s leadership, has been serving as interim president, and he will go back to his title of provost when Saunders starts as president. That date has not been set.

Read more at palmbeachpost.com.

FAU Gets New President
By Scott Travis
March 3, 2010

Mary Jane Saunders, who has a strong background in science and administration, will become the next president of Florida Atlantic University.

Saunders, 59, most recently served as provost and senior vice president at Cleveland State University. She received the FAU board of trustees’ vote of support after nearly two hours of discussion. She beat out two other finalists, Gary Miller, provost at Wichita State University, and Terry Hickey, provost at the University of Central Florida.

“She has the vision we need,” said William Bryant, a trustee on the board.

Saunders, who goes by the nickname “MJ,” will become FAU’s sixth president and the second woman to hold the job, following Helen Popovich, who served from 1983 to 1989. Her start date hasn’t been determined.

Read more at sun-sentinel.com.

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