The University of Alabama’s president Judy Bonner addressed the Board of Trustees Friday morning, a day after being hired as the first permanent woman president in the school’s history. Bonner previously served as provost and interim president.
“The job before us now is to continue to build on the progress to maintain the momentum and to seize the new opportunities that lie before us,” Bonner said. “Working on behalf of the hardworking tax payers of our great state – and our students and their parents – my commitment to you is that we will build on the progress of the last decade, and we will make you proud of your University.”
Bonner, who was named president Thursday afternoon following the resignation of Guy Bailey, discussed enrollment and application increases, among other examples of recent success at the Capstone.
“We began this year with a record enrollment of 33,602 students. This is a 5.8 percent increase in enrollment, with some 1,855 more students this year than last year,” Bonner said. “Applications for a seat in our freshman class are increasing at a rapid rate. We have 8,000 more students applying for a seat in our freshman class this year than just five years ago. That is a 43 percent increase.”
Bonner also used the opportunity to express her gratitude to the board and the University.
“Our University holds a very special place for all who have been touched by it, from the newest faculty to staff who have been here for the longest period of time to students who are walking across the Quad for the very first time,” Bonner said. “Everyone who has crimson in their blood understands the life-changing way in which the Capstone impacts individuals.”
Bailey resigned Wednesday afternoon after holding office for just 60 days. UA students received an e-mail at 3:13 p.m. with statements from Bailey, trustee Paul Bryant, Jr. and Chancellor Robert Witt.
Bailey cited his wife’s health for his resignation.
“This is a decision my wife Jan and I made together after much discussion about how we can best address her health, which is the most important priority in our lives,” Bailey wrote. “We want to thank the faculty, staff, students, alumni and our many friends for your warm welcome. My family and I appreciate your understanding and your prayers.”
Bailey did not attend the Board of Trustees meeting Thursday, where Bonner was voted in unanimously by the Board.
For now, Bonner’s previous position of provost remains open, but she said Thursday that she will name an interim quickly. Bonner said the UA System has asked that interims not be candidates for the position, a policy not in place when Bonner sat as interim president between the Witt and Bailey presidencies.
Bonner said it was her decision not to enter the presidential search following Witt’s move to chancellor.
“I was serving as provost and as interim president, and I felt that I had enough balls in the air that I did not need to be a candidate for the position at that time,” she said.
Bonner said she is devoted to continue building upon the recent success of the University.
“With the sense of community that has been built over the last decade, I am confident that our faculty, our staff, our students, our alumni, our parents will continue to work together,” Bonner said. “My commitment to you is that we will build on the promise of the last decade; we will seize the opportunities that lie before us, we will maintain the momentum, and we will make you proud of your University.”
