University President Mark Yudof adjusted his cabinet this week. The changes will require new nameplates for two administrators.
The president removed “acting” from Carol Carrier’s title, Wednesday, officially making her the vice president for Human Resources. Yudof did not trash the modifier, however. He applied it to Donna Peterson, who on Friday will become interim vice president for Institutional Relations.
Carrier has been the University’s top human resources officer during the 10-month search for a permanent vice president. Peterson temporarily replaces Tom Swain, who is retiring.
Starting as a professor in 1976, Carrier moved into the central administration’s human resources office in 1989. She became associate vice president three years later.
It wasn’t until Yudof took office in July 1997 that the position was elevated to the full vice presidential position.
As chief human resources officer, Carrier directly oversees 160 staff members and 30,728 full- and part-time employees indirectly.
Yudof called Carrier a superb employee who was the right fit. “I wanted someone at the highest level of the administration to support the staff,” Yudof said.
Robert Bruininks, executive vice president and provost, has worked with both Peterson and Carrier over the last several years.
“In my judgment, they are outstanding University and community leaders,” Bruininks said. “I’m absolutely delighted with their appointments.”
Peterson started at the University in 1990 as director of state relations. Before that she was a state legislator, spending eight years as a senator and two years as a representative.
“Her performance as director of state relations for the past eight years has been outstanding,” Yudof said. “Particularly during the most recent legislative session, which resulted in unprecedented state support for the University.”
As one of the school’s main lobbyists, she helped secure $242.8 million in state funding for building improvements and faculty raises. Maintaining outside ties, as she did with legislators, will be key in her new position.
Peterson said as interim vice president for Institutional Relations, she will continue fostering good communications at the University until a permanent replacement is found. But she said she is not interested in holding the position permanently.
“I really like the job I’ve got as director of state relations,” Peterson said. She will probably be able resume those duties soon.
Yudof said the vice presidential search committee will probably find someone this summer.