Former University of Louisville president resigned under threat of termination

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Former University of Louisville president Kim Schatzel resigned from her position after she was threatened with being fired, records show.

Diane Medley, the former chair of the U of L board of trustees, and former vice chair Larry Benz told Schatzel in a March 24 email that the board had "sufficient evidence for a 'for cause' termination" and planned to fire her unless she left voluntarily, according to the email obtained in a public records request.

Benz is now the board's acting chair.

Louisville Public Media was first to report the existence of the email this week.

Schatzel stepped down March 26 and cut a deal for a $700,000 severance package. It was less than a year after a job review touted her "strong performance" at the university.

The university's board of trustees announced the move following a closed session during a special meeting at Grawemeyer Hall on the Belknap Campus. Gerry Bradley, a former university executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, was named the new permanent president.

Schatzel took the reins at UofL in February 2023.

Under the agreement, Schatzel will receive $400,000 plus unspecified deferred compensation over the next month.

She also will receive $300,000 in monthly installments starting April 15. The term sheet also includes a "mutual non-disparagement clause."

Her annual base salary was $925,000.

Schatzel, a former president of Towson University in suburban Baltimore, succeeded Neeli Bendapudi, who led the university from 2018-21 before leaving for the top post at Penn State University.

Bradley had accepted a high-ranking job at the University of Cincinnati but rescinded his acceptance of the offer Tuesday, according to UC President Neville Pinto -- himself a former U of L interim president.

Bradley served in his previous role at U of L since February 2024 and was interim provost from January 2022 to February 2023, and from July 2023 to February 2024. With his appointment Tuesday, Bradley becomes the university's 20th president.

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