[July 09, 2011] KSU Provost Robert Frank to leave in 2012 Tweet Jul 09, 2011 (The Akron Beacon Journal - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- The No. 2 official at Kent State announced Friday he will leave the university at the end of the next school year. "At age 59, you reassess you priorities, and I've long dreamed of being a college president," Robert Frank told the campus community in an email. "Realistically, I've one career move left, and now's the time to make it." He did not indicate what his future plans might be in his email. He could not be reached for comment. In 2009, Frank made $267,800. His current salary was not immediately available. Frank was one of 26 candidates for the presidency of Florida State University in 2009, but did not make the cut to three finalists. His strategy at Kent State has been to "move quickly and aggressively with new endeavors,'' he said on his application for the Florida State job that was published on the Internet. In his email to the campus community, Frank cited accomplishments that included creating a unified School of Graduate Studies, doubling the number of international students and new academic programs that include public health, a School of Digital Sciences and a Center for Ecology and Natural Resource Sustainability. Frank came to KSU in 2007 as senior vice president of academic affairs and provost, the highest academic post in the eight-campus system. He was instrumental in KSU developing a College of Public Health, the second in Ohio. Before coming to Kent State, Frank served for 12 years as dean at the University of Florida in Gainesville, the fourth largest public university nationwide. He oversaw a college of 1,600 students in two locations and a $28.8 million operating budget. He is a certified clinical psychologist and has been director of UF's Florida Center for Medicaid and the Uninsured, which researches public policy on health care for the poor. "By planning my departure, the university will have plenty of time to conduct a careful search for a new provost and benefit from a seamless leadership transition next summer," Frank said in his email. He said President Lester Lefton would appoint a search committee right away. Carol Biliczky can be reached at 330-996-3729 or [email protected]. To see more of the Akron Beacon Journal, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.ohio.com. Copyright (c) 2011, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]