LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – The University of Louisville trustees who evaluated former President Kim Schatzel last year unanimously agreed that she should continue leading the school, with one board member saying “there are no concerns that come close to consideration of a change at the top.”
But the review sheds light on several criticisms from U of L’s top governing body, such as board members not getting fully briefed on some issues and a need for better communication between Schatzel and the broader Louisville community.
The performance evaluation, which WDRB News obtained in a public records request, provides a glimpse into Schatzel’s management style and work before her sudden resignation in late March – a move university leaders have declined to discuss in detail. Schatzel has not commented publicly.
The unidentified board members were largely positive in the review. One trustee described Schatzel’s “wonderful job,” while another said the then-president “has proven she can lead in difficult times.” Another called Schatzel the “right person at the right time to lead UL.”
In all, 12 of the board’s 13 trustees participated in what was Schatzel’s lone review last summer. Those members gave her the strongest marks on acting with integrity; acting decisively; diversity commitments; and her relationship with government leaders.
Other areas showed less agreement, including a survey on Schatzel’s relationships with members of the U of L community and others.
For example, 5 of the 12 board members were neutral on whether Schatzel had built a strong rapport with alumni. No one could “strongly agree” that she had built a strong relationship with faculty, staff and students – while one-fourth of the board didn’t take a position.
“Kim is doing an effective job as president and there is no reason for a change,” one trustee wrote.
One member said Schatzel had “established a strong leadership presence on the campus and community. She has laid out a very strong vision for UofL and I believe if she is properly supported, she will continue the growth of the University. Her focus areas, to me, have been the right ones for a new President. As she continues to build ‘her team’ around her, I believe they will execute upon her vision for the university. I have great confidence in her leadership abilities. She has a ‘take charge style’ which is needed at the university.”
Others were more pointed.
“Fully communicating with the board is necessary for an effective working relationship,” one wrote. “Sharing ‘all’ with the board is required to be successful. Giving bits and pieces of a situation to board members will not lead to a good working relationship."
Another board member said Schatzel could improve on scheduling time with “outside constituents.”
“Although I am not sure of the process, I have had some people in the community voice concerns about lack of responsiveness to emails, calls etc.,” the trustee wrote. “This can never be totally perfect but we should strive for excellent communication with the outside.”
One comment said Schatzel needed to ensure that communication with her executive team was “healthy and robust which means that it goes both ways.”
“The team needs to feel comfortable having difficult conversations with her and vice versa. It is difficult for us at the BOT level to determine if this is ongoing or not. I have no evidence that this is not occuring (sic) but her strong approach could inhibit it with some people who are not accustomed to it or who lack some confidence in their own abilities.”
Diane Medley, the board of trustees chair, said after the March 26 special board meeting that the goals of both Schatzel and the board had changed. Medley declined to elaborate in a telephone interview last week.
Schatzel, a former president of Towson University in Maryland, took the top executive role at U of L in early 2023. She did not respond to a request for comment after she resigned.
Her letter of resignation simply says: “I am hereby providing the Board of Trustees of the University of Louisville notice of my resignation as President of the University, effective today. It has been an honor to serve the University as its President.”
U of L did not conduct a national search for Schatzel’s replacement, but instead named Dr. Gerry Bradley as her successor. Bradley is a former university executive vice president for academic affairs and provost.
Bradley told reporters last week that the U of L board approached him about the job.
Bradley had announced he was leaving for a leadership post at the University of Cincinnati before rescinding the offer. His decision not to take the UC job was announced the day before he accepted the U of L presidency.
“I was contacted during the time that the board was making their decisions — not only about the president's resignation but also about having me," Bradley said last week. "So I'm not sure of the timing or the context, but it all happened very quickly, as you might imagine."
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