Michigan State University's board named Satish Udpa as its new interim president, replacing John Engler.
Engler resigned Wednesday, hours after the board scheduled a special Thursday morning meeting to fire him. Engler had said he would resign next Wedsnesday, but the board accepted his resignation effectively immediately. The move to accept Engler's resignation and name Upda interim president was unamious. Trustee Melanie Foster, an Engler supporter, was not at the meeting.
"A wrong has been righted today," an emotional board member Kelly Tebay, nearly in tears, said. "I'm sorry it took so long. Hopefully we restored some faith in your board."
Udpa is currently the school's executive vice president for administrative services, a post he's held since 2013. Before that, he was the dean of the school of engineering for seven years.
In his current position he is in charge of the university's human resources department; IT department; facilities department; office of planning and budgets; land management office and the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams.
"I'd like to thank Satish for being willing to step into this fiasco," board member Brianna Scott said.
Many trustees said Satish brings integrity back to the position. In their comments, they took not-so-veiled shots at Engler, who battled survivors of Larry Nassar's sexual assault and often said the wrong thing.
"I feel like there was a huge weight off my shoulders," said Nassar survivor Kaylee Lorincz. "I can't wait to see where it goes from here."
Normally a board would elevate a provost _ the No. 2 position at a university who runs the day-to-day academic operations _ but at MSU, June Youatt has also been trapped in controversy. She was involved in a 2015 review of former Dean William Strampel and gave him good marks, despite MSU knowing for more than a decade of complaints that Strampel had been sexually harassing students. Strampel is currently facing criminal charges.
Udpa is facing a tough task. He takes over for Engler, who was forced out over his treatment of survivors of Larry Nassar's sexual abuse.
The board is currently undergoing a search for a new permanent president. Board members hope to have that person in place this summer.
