UNF President Announces Resignation

University of North Florida President Anne Hopkins today announced plans to resign effective August 2 due to health reasons.

Hopkins informed the University’s Board of Trustees at the conclusion of their meeting Thursday indicating that after a leave she plans to become a professor of political science at UNF and will continue to be active in the Jacksonville community.

“I have very high expectations of myself and am not able to maintain a pace commensurate with my responsibilities,” she said in a prepared statement. “I have agonized over what is right to do for the University of North Florida and myself. This is an intensely personal decision,” she said.

Board of Trustees Chair Carol Thompson said she is deeply saddened by the resignation but understands the medical circumstances that prompted it. “We are indebted to the leadership Anne has provided during this transition period from the Board of Regents to individual boards of trustees. We look forward to having her remain in a teaching position on campus and her continued involvement in the community,” she said.

The Board of Trustees accepted the resignation with regret and will schedule a special emergency meeting to discuss details of a transition plan.

Hopkins has undergone two major surgeries in less than 14 months. In February she underwent open heart surgery. She returned to work in April after two months of medical leave. Although the surgery successfully fixed a heart valve problem, Hopkins said she is not able to continue the demanding schedule of a university president.

Hopkins was named the fourth president of UNF in November, 1998. She came to Jacksonville after serving as provost of Miami University in Ohio.

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