TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees on Thursday approved a Louisiana State University administrator as the next president of the University of Alabama.
The board unanimously approved Stuart Bell as the next president for the state's flagship university.
Bell, who will succeed outgoing president Judy Bonner on July 15, is currently the provost and executive vice president at LSU.
Bonner, the first woman to hold the presidency at Alabama, is retiring after less than three years.
"The university has had such great success over the last several years, in terms of its growth, in terms of student success, in terms of academic programs, in terms of athletic programs and campus improvements," Bell told trustees. "Many, many, many people I know, I realize, have brought us here and I'll be standing on the shoulders of those people, and as we stand here today and looking forward I see a bright future."
Bell's new position won't be his first at the University of Alabama. In 1986 he joined the university as an assistant professor in the mechanical engineering department before becoming the department head nine years later. In 2002 left Alabama to become dean of the University of Kansas School of Engineering. A Texas native, Bell has three engineering degrees from Texas A&M University.
"I believe the future is also exciting," Bell said. "The university is well positioned to discover, to inspire and to achieve the aspirations that corporately we'll work together to move forward."
Bell was one of more than 50 candidates nominated, said Steve Miller, the faculty representative for the search team. He said six candidates were interviewed in Atlanta over the course of two days.
Chancellor Robert Witt recommended Bell for the top job in Tuscaloosa following a four-month search by an advisory committee.
"He comes to us with over 25 year of experience, a successful record as professor, department chair, dean, chief academic officer and chief operating officer," Witt said. "He has the vision, values, leadership skills, the experience to take the university of Alabama to the next level."