Richard J. Koubek elected Michigan Tech’s next president

Michigan Tech President-Elect Richard Koubek and his wife, Valerie Koubek. (Photo courtesy Michigan Tech University)

By Stefanie Sidortsova, Michigan Tech Director of Communications and Public Relations
Published 10:15 a.m., April 13, 2018, on Michigan Tech News
Reprinted in part with permission

President-elect Richard J. Koubek will lead the University as its 10th president, the Michigan Technological University Board of Trustees announced today.

Koubek, who is executive vice president and provost of Louisiana State University, begins his tenure at Michigan Tech on July 1, 2018. He succeeds Glenn D. Mroz, who has served as president since 2004 and is stepping down to rejoin the University’s faculty.

"Rick Koubek is a man of unquestioned integrity, character and leadership," said Terry Woychowski, chair of the Michigan Tech Board of Trustees. "He has a profound and passionate vision of the role Michigan Tech will play in our nation's prosperity, and the betterment of the world, as he leads this historic University in developing and delivering -- on a global scale -- the solutions to some of society's most vexing challenges. I believe that Dr. Koubek was born for this time, this place and this position."

The Board of Trustees selected Koubek from a pool of four semi-finalist candidates brought forward for consideration by a 14-member Presidential Search Committee (PSC) that included student, faculty, staff, alumni and community representatives....
Click here to read this full story on Michigan Tech News.

Michigan Tech President Glenn Mroz announces intention to return to faculty in 2018

HOUGHTON -- Michigan Technological University President Glenn D. Mroz announced his intention to return to faculty starting no sooner than June 30, 2018.

In an open letter to the University community today, Mroz stated, "For some time now, the University leadership and I have worked to develop a comprehensive plan in anticipation of leadership succession. This announcement marks the beginning of a period of transition, allowing the Board of Trustees to conduct a thorough and effective search."

Board of Trustees Chair Terry Woychowski stated, "It’s with considerable regret we acknowledge this news from Glenn. Being the type of leader he is, he’s given Michigan Tech and the Board of Trustees a long lead time. This is not the time to thank Glenn for his amazing tenure -- that will come in due course. For now, we need his foot on the gas and both hands on the wheel."

Mroz is the third-longest serving current president among the public universities in the state of Michigan and will be the fourth-longest serving president at Michigan Tech by the time he steps down next year.

The full contents of President Mroz’s letter are below:

Dear Michigan Tech Community,

After much thought and deliberation, I am writing to let you know that yesterday I informed the Board of Trustees of my intent to return to the Michigan Tech faculty ranks as of June 30, 2018.

For some time now, the University leadership and I have worked to develop a comprehensive plan in anticipation of leadership succession. This announcement marks the beginning of a period of transition, allowing the Board of Trustees to conduct a thorough and effective search.

Communications like these often bring feelings of uncertainty, and with uncertainty sometimes comes a predilection to delay decision-making. I have no intention of allowing Michigan Tech to lose its forward momentum. The University owes you nothing less. 

The Board of Trustees is organizing the search and will provide brief details at their open meeting on April 28.

When President Ray Smith informed the then Board of Control of his intention to step down as president in 1978, he wrote, "My reason is simple. It’s time." I can’t say it better than that. 

Warm regards,

Glenn

Inset Photo: Michigan Technological University President Glenn Mroz. (Photo courtesy Michigan Tech)