Updated: 3:30 p.m. to correct spelling of Coombe’s wife’s name. The original story spelled her name as Anna, when her name is Julanna
Coombe speaks at the opening of the Anderson Academic Commons last winter .
In an email sent Friday afternoon to DU students, staff and faculty Robert Coombe announced that he will retire as university chancellor this year.
“I’ve been Chancellor for nine years now, and it is time for me to step aside and make room for that new leadership,” Coombe said in the email. “Consequently, after many months of deep consideration, Julanna and I have decided that this year will be our last at DU,”
Coombe will step down from his position at the end of the fiscal year, which falls on June 30th. He has worked at DU for 33 years, serving as chancellor for nine of those years.
According to Will Jones, DU’s external communications manager, Board of Trustees member Doug Scrivner is heading the formation of a search committee to find candidates to replace Coombe. The committee will be comprised of university faculty and senior administration members, and will hold their first meeting on Jan. 27.
The committee will also hold town hall meetings in February to hear input on candidates from the rest of the university.
“That way the entire university community can share its thoughts and be involved in the process,” said Jones.
A new chancellor search web page will be created later this month, and will include a mailbox for community comments. According to Jones, the committee is hoping to have a new chancellor named by the end of the academic year.
“Our plan and our goal and our hope is to have someone in place when Chancellor Coombe steps down,” said Jones. “That way there will be a sort of passing of the torch.”
The new chancellor will be the 18th in DU’s 150-year history. Coombe has worked for the university since 1981, when he began with the chemistry department. He has previously served as the chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, dean of the Division of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering and as university provost before becoming chancellor in 2005.
