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Op-eds By Charles Garris May 24, 2021 1:13 AM
Charles Garris is a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, a member of the Faculty Senate and a former Chair of the Faculty Senate executive committee.
It is with great sadness that I learned of University President Thomas LeBlanc’s decision to retire from his position at the end of the 2021–22 academic year. At the beginning of his presidency, there was a palpable excitement that he would build on the upward trajectory of excellence left to him by the administrations of predecessors Stephen Joel Trachtenberg and Steven Knapp. LeBlanc was provided by the presidential search committee with a detailed analysis which defined a series of major historical challenges that had prevented GW from joining the top tier academic institutions of the nation and limited the future trajectory of the institution.
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Higher education administration experts said LeBlanc may prioritize certain shorter term goals like increasing fundraising in his last year at GW, but his attention should turn to ensuring a smooth transition for his successor.
Higher education administration experts said University President Thomas LeBlanc’s announcement that he will be stepping down next year comes as no surprise, given the ongoing tensions between him and the GW community.
Experts said university presidents tend to leave after faculty express doubts in their leadership, which LeBlanc experienced after a recent facultysurvey indicated a loss of confidence in his administration. They said in his remaining year at GW, LeBlanc may choose to focus on behind-the-scenes work like boosting fundraising, or he could aim to leave on a high note by ensuring an easy transition for his successor.
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