Burlington College appointed a team of three to serve as interim leaders of the school after former president Christine Plunkett resigned Friday.
Until Monday evening, the school had not officially acknowledged that Plunkett resigned. Friday during a student protest, the former president, after an exchange with students who surrounded her car in the parking lot, she abruptly told students “I resign.”
Her resignation comes after mounting financial trouble at the college and votes of no confidence from students, faculty and staff.
Michael Smith will serve as interim president. Jane Knodell will be interim provost. David Coates will be interim financial adviser, according to a news release from the school sent Monday evening.
“This team brings decades of management, academic, and financial expertise to the college as we deal with the challenges before us,” said Yves Bradley, board chairman, in the release.
The trio will run the school while the college searches for a new president.
Smith has served as deputy state treasurer, secretary of administration and secretary of human services, according to the press release. He retired last year as state president of Fairpoint Communications, the release said.
Knodell has served as provost and senior vice president of the University of Vermont, the news release said. She is a professor of economics at UVM and researches financial institutions, the release said. She is also a Burlington city councilor.
Coates is a certified public accountant who retired as a managing partner at KPMG. He is a director of National Life, Green Mountain Power Co., the Vermont Disaster Relief Fund, Union Mutual Fire Insurance Co., VELCO and the Vermont Student Assistance Corp., according to the release. He is also a member of the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors, the release said.
The school has scheduled a press conference at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the school, at 351 North Ave.
