The University of Tennessee system has lost three of its top leaders as a buzz continues to grow around the system's high-profile presidential search.
But UT officials say vice presidents are not fleeing their posts because of concern about a new system leader coming in and shaking up the status quo.
"There was no discussion of anybody cleaning house or anyone's job in jeopardy," said Hank Dye, vice president for public and government relations at UT. "Nobody told me that my job is in jeopardy."
Shortly before the summer meeting of the UT board of trustees, Gary Rogers, the system's chief financial officer, announced he was retiring to care for an elderly family member. He was replaced by UT system treasurer Butch Peccolo.
Around the time of the board meeting, two other system leaders, Henry Nemcik, the vice president for development who oversaw the system's $1 billion fundraising campaign, and Bonnie Yegidis, vice president for academic affairs, also announced they were leaving.
Nemcik will take a job as president of the fundraising foundation at the University of New Mexico, and Yegidis returns to her alma mater, the University of South Florida, to direct the school's social work program.
All three vice presidents were hired under former UT system President John Petersen, who abruptly resigned in February.
Officials said the three vice presidents were not asked to leave for political reasons or performance issues. Calls to Yegidis and Nemcik were not returned.
At the most recent board meeting, Nemcik was praised for his fundraising efforts, and UT interim President Jan Simek said Yegidis played an important role in helping the system meet new requirements mandated by higher education legislation passed earlier this year.
"Increasing retention and graduation rates and developing articulation agreements between Tennessee's public institutions are key to the most effective use of higher education resources," Simek said. "Dr. Yegidis has led a very effective effort to strategically position us in these areas."
In the meantime, Simek named Scott Rabenhold as interim vice president for development and Katie High as the interim academic head.
There is no search under way for the two open positions, and one will likely not be started until a new president is named by the board in October, Dye said.
"The folks in the interim jobs are very capable," he said. "(They) would be the most likely candidates to take those positions."
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