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GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — University of North Dakota President Robert Kelley, who has led the school for nearly seven years and has overseen the sometimes-contentious transition to a new nickname after the abolition of "Fighting Sioux," has announced he is retiring effective Jan. 14.
Kelley, 71, has led the Grand Forks school, one of the state's two major universities, since July 2008. He said in a statement Tuesday that he has been contemplating retirement for some time and feels it is the right time. He did not elaborate.
"The University of North Dakota has made — and will continue to make — an indelible contribution to the state of North Dakota, the nation, and the world," he said. "It has been my privilege to work alongside the faculty, staff, students and alumni who make that happen."
The North Dakota University System will announce plans later for finding a successor for Kelley.
Kelley came to UND from the University of Wyoming, where he was dean of health sciences, to become only the 11th president since the school was founded in 1884. He succeeded the retired Charles Kupchella.
Interim University System Chancellor Larry Skogen said Kelley has overseen growth in areas such as enrollment, research, and both the UND medical school and law school. He also is overseeing the adoption of a new nickname after the NCAA said the school's longtime moniker was offensive.
"I thank Bob for ensuring the quality of these programs, and I also thank him for his leadership during the tumultuous sports team nickname change," Skogen said. "He showed tremendous fortitude during adverse times, and I wish him the best in his retirement."
Kelley's administration has had rocky moments. The Student Senate earlier this year weighed a vote of no-confidence in Kelley and three other top administrators, accusing them of not being open about tuition proposals. Administrators and student leaders eventually signed a memorandum of understanding pledging to strengthen communication and cooperation.
The university had a fall 2014 enrollment of nearly 15,000 students. Besides its law school and medical school, UND is known for its aeronautics school, considered one of the best in the country, and for its men's hockey team, consistently one of the top squads in the nation. The school has seven national hockey championships, and fell just short of an eighth last season when the team lost in the semifinals of the NCAA Frozen Four.
Kelley worked at Wyoming from 1999-2008. Before that, he was associate vice chancellor for research and dean of the graduate college at the University of Illinois in Chicago. He has taught at the Illinois-Chicago medical school, the University of New Mexico and the University of California, Berkeley.
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