FRANKFORT, Ky. (WDRB) – Gov. Andy Beshear said the University of Louisville’s president should be hired after a national search – a process that wasn’t followed when U of L trustees named a new top executive this week.

Kim Schatzel resigned abruptly Wednesday less than two years into her term as the university’s 19th president. Former provost Dr. Gerry Bradley was named her permanent successor at a special board of trustees meeting.

Beshear, who appoints the majority of the U of L board, told reporters at the Kentucky Capitol that he didn’t have any insight into what led to Schatzel’s departure. He said he doesn’t get involved in the inner workings of public university boards, although he praised Schatzel as “positive and professional.”

Asked if it is appropriate – or even a mistake – to not have a broad search for Schatzel’s replacement, Beshear said: “I always believe you should do a search. You may think you’re the very best person, but you do need to compare them to options.”

However, he described Bradley as someone who “would likely rise to the top of any search.”  

U of L declined to make board chair Diane Medley available for an interview after the governor’s comments. But Medley defended the lack of a broader search on Wednesday, saying it’s not required by law.

She described the process as “more of a logical decision rather than a departure from precedent.”

“We were very fortunate to have had the ability to name Dr. Bradley, who had already been here, so we wouldn’t lose any momentum,” she told reporters at Grawemeyer Hall Wednesday night.

Sundar Atre, a professor in U of L's Speed School of Engineering, was among those who expressed dismay about the process that resulted in Bradley's hiring. Bradley had announced he was leaving for a high-ranking position at the University of Cincinnati before rescinding the offer this week. 

"He had basically terminated his commitment towards the community, towards the university, and he was brought back -- for what?" Atre said. 

Chemistry professor Eugene Mueller, the board's faculty representative, told WDRB that Bradley may not have undergone a traditional search process for the U of L job -- but he had for the UC role.

Mueller said the university is in "good hands" at a time when higher education faces numerous challenges.

"I can understand why my faculty colleagues are dismayed about the process," he said. "In an ideal world it wouldn’t happen. But we don’t live in a utopia."

Schatzel's exit was described as "mutual" in a term sheet made public Wednesday evening. Under the agreement, Schatzel will receive $400,000 plus unspecified deferred compensation over the next month. 

She also will receive $300,000 in monthly installments starting April 15. The term sheet also includes a "mutual non-disparagement clause." 

Her annual base salary was $925,000. 

WDRB has filed an open records request with U of L for Schatzel's resignation letter; personnel file, her performance evaluation; and any letters of reprimand, among other documents.

Schatzel did not respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.  

She took the top job at U of L in early 2023, becoming the university's 19th president and presiding over a period that included "record-breaking" enrollment and historic levels of student retention, she told the campus community during a February town hall address. 

In her only job review last July, Medley described Schatzel's work as a "strong performance," meeting minutes show.

"There have been significant achievements over the past year such as providing stability of leadership, success with the legislative funding allocations, the reorganization of the administrative and leadership team, and her decisive approach to decision-making," the minutes said.

"The chair noted that the trustees are pleased with her performance and look forward to her continued service as president of the university."

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