Web update: Locatelli announces resignation

By Jeremy Herb

University President Paul Locatelli, S.J., announced Friday he is resigning as president at the end of the school year.

Locatelli, who is Santa Clara's longest-serving president, is accepting an expanded role with the Jesuits in Rome, which will require him to travel more globally.

"It became painfully evident that stepping down is the only fair and right thing to do, because I cannot divide my time and energy between two jobs and do what is best as president," Locatelli said in an e-mail to the campus community.

In 2006, Locatelli accepted a fourth six-year term as university president. He was appointed as Secretary for Jesuit Higher Education in December 2006 as a part-time position with the Jesuits in Rome, with plans to split his time in Santa Clara and Rome.

But after the new Jesuit Superior General Adolfo Nicolas, S.J., was chosen last month, Locatelli was given more responsibilities in Rome to help connect Jesuit universities and colleges.

"Over the past 20 years, Paul has led Santa Clara through a transformation to a more diverse and more nationally prominent university," said Mike Markkula, chair of the board of trustees. "This is truly the end of an era."

Since Locatelli took over as president in 1988, Santa Clara has grown in size and stature. He oversaw an increase student enrollment and the construction of several buildings on campus, most recently the new library and business school.

The university's endowment grew from $77 million in 1988 to over $600 million under Locatelli.

Some of Locatelli's more controversial actions included disbanding the football team in 1993 and removing fraternities and sororities as part of the university.

Locatelli returned to campus this week after a two-and-a-half month visit to Rome, where he helped elect the new Secretary General.

The Board of Trustees will immediately begin looking for a new president, which Markkula said would be "a targeted search of Jesuits." Locatelli will remain president into the 2008-2009 school year until a replacement is found.