Trustees act on appointment, hiring of deans

The board’s action follows a committee’s five-year review of Hern’s performance concluding that the dean is an “effective, transformational and transparent leader who motivates people and promotes diversity, who is meticulous with details and who does not fear dealing with hard issues.”

The trustees also approved hiring Craig H. Blakely as the new dean of the School of Public Health and Information Sciences effective April 1. He is the current dean of the School of Rural Public Health at Texas A&M, College Station, Texas. UofL announced Blakely as the choice for the post Jan. 16.

They also approved the hiring of Eugene Krentsel as associate vice president for research and innovation. (See related story.)

Board members also gave the go-ahead for repairs on four hail-damaged roofs on Belknap Campus and an elevator in the Medical Dental Research Building at the Health Sciences Center. The five repairs will cost more than $200,000 each.

The roofs are among 69 that were damaged in the April, 2012, hail storm. The total cost to repair or replace the roofs is expected to be about $8.2 million and will be covered by insurance.

The board also approved a resolution honoring the Louisville Cardinals men’s football team for its victory in the 2013 Allstate Sugar Bowl and the academic performance of the team’s members.