The long road to get here
Posted on Feb 19, 2013 in News
On August 16, 2012, the entire student body recieved the shocking email that Former President Carol Garrison would be ending her decadelong governing over UAB.
Dr. Watts was named the seventh president after Former President Carol Garrison resigned. UAB News
Administrator Richard Marchase stepped in as interim president. Soon after, a 31-member committee was formed to begin the search for the new president.
Even though Marchase’s term was temporary, he made substantial progress in his four months. He wanted to “be much more than a caretaker.”
The two ongoing problems that Marchase wanted to immediately fix is UAB’s low retention rate and faculty productivity.
Before Former President Carol Garrison decided to leave, UAB initiated Graduate Planning System (GPS) and more advising counsel, which Marchase continued to use to help with the retention rate.
Marchase planned to bring in more in-state students, because they are the greatest market for UAB right now. About 90 percent of undergraduate students are from the state of Alabama.
While Marchase was continuing the function of the school. The interview process ended December 18, 2012. In the new year, Chancellor Robert Witt announced his recommendation for the UAB Presidency.
Birmingham News predicted that Ray Watts would win, and college officials would not comment if the information provided was factual.
Watts was named the seventh President of UAB on Friday, Febrary 8th. Dr. Watts is the Senior Vice President and Dean of the School of the Medicine since 2010. He was an UAB alumni graduating in 1976.
Watts is the ideal candidate for president due to his longtime presence of leadership at UAB.
Carlene Robinson
News Editor
news@insideuab.com