COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. - The University of Colorado Board of Regents announced today that Elizabeth "Betsy" Hoffman, 53, has been named the 20th president of the University of Colorado. Hoffman, currently Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), will take over CU's top post on Sept. 1.
"I respectfully and enthusiastically accept the position of president of the University of Colorado. I am absolutely delighted to have the opportunity to play a key role in such a renowned higher education institution," said Hoffman. "I believe the four-campus CU system is one of the great public universities in the country. I see exciting opportunities for the system to move forward and build upon its legacy of teaching, research, public service, patient care and overall academic excellence."
"We are delighted that Dr. Hoffman has accepted our offer to become the University of Colorado's 20th president," said Board of Regents Chair Jerry Rutledge. "In my view, the search committee did an exceptional job. I believe Betsy Hoffman will bring a great deal of enthusiasm, academic management experience and leadership to CU."
As UIC's chief academic officer, Hoffman has overseen a $1 billion budget and headed the nation's third-largest health sciences center, which includes the country's largest medical school. Hoffman holds concurrent academic appointments as Professor of Economics, History, Political Science, Psychology and Professor in the Institute of Government and Public Affairs.
Hoffman emerged as the CU Presidential Search Committee's sole recommendation for the presidential position. On May 31, the committee proposed to the Board of Regents that Hoffman be selected for campus interviews. The Regents approved the recommendation and named Hoffman a finalist for CU's top post.
Hoffman visited the university's four campuses in late June during a week of interviews and meetings in which administrators, staff, faculty, students and community members had the opportunity to talk with the candidate and assess her qualifications. Based on a board review of evaluations from these meetings, Dr. Hoffman was invited back to Colorado for a second round of interviews with the Regents last week.
"Throughout the search process we have been impressed with Dr. Hoffman's diverse background in education and administration, and her outstanding experience as a highly effective leader," said Board of Regents member and Presidential Search Committee Chair Pete Steinhauer. "We were further pleased with the high marks Dr. Hoffman received on evaluations form the campus visits, and therefore invited her back for more in-depth interviews with the board."
Today in Colorado Springs at the Regents' monthly public business meeting, the board voted unanimously to offer Hoffman the presidential post, which she accepted in person. Hoffman's contract states her compensation will be $285,000 per year as CU's top official. Additionally, she will receive the use of an automobile and live in the University Residence located in east Boulder. Hoffman was also offered and accepted, a tenured faculty appointment at the rank of professor in the department of economics, College of Arts and Sciences, at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Hoffman joined UIC in 1997, after serving as Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Iowa State University. Throughout her career, she has also held academic and administrative positions at the University of Florida, Northwestern University, Purdue University, the University of Wyoming and the University of Arizona.
Hoffman earned her first Ph.D., in history form the University of Pennsylvania in 1972 and a second Ph.D., in economics, from the California Institute of Technology in 1979. She received a B.A. in history from Smith College in 1968 and an M.A. in history from the University of Pennsylvania in 1969. Hoffman has served on more than 40 academic advisory councils, boards and committees, authored or co-authored three books and dozens of articles, and received consistent National Science Foundation funding for her distinguished research.
The search for president of the four-campus University of Colorado system began after CU's 18th president, John C. Buechner, announced his resignation on Oct. 14, 1999, effective June 1. On May 15, the Regents unanimously elected Alexander E. "Sandy" Bracken to serve as CU's 19th president. Bracken took over CU's presidency on June 1 and will continue in the position until Hoffman begins her term.
For further information, please contact Bob Nero or Brad Bohlander in the CU System Office of Institutional Relations at (303) 492-6206.