John B. Simpson will stay on as president of the University at
Buffalo for a "limited period of time" until a permanent successor is
found. Simpson, who was set to retire Jan. 15, informed UB staff
and faculty Wednesday of his decision, which avoids the need to appoint
an interim president while the search continues for UB's next leader. "Following discussions with [State University of New York] officials and
University Council Chairman Jeremy Jacobs, I have agreed to continue as
president for a limited period of time beyond Jan. 15, while the search
process moves toward a conclusion," Simpson wrote in an e-mail. Simpson surprised everyone on the first day of classes last August by
announcing he would step down Jan. 15. Jacobs subsequently named Scott D. Nostaja, a senior Simpson associate, as interim president. But
faculty members questioned his qualifications, and SUNY had yet to
appoint anyone. Simpson said Wednesday that he wanted his tenure
as UB president to end before the start of another semester but
acknowledged his retirement date was arbitrary.
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