George Washington University President Joel Trachtenberg announced his plans Tuesday to resign in July 2007. He has been president for nearly 20 years.
ÿ His length of service is rare, with the average college president lasting only six years or so. Trachtenberg oversaw the building of GW Hospital and the acquisiton of more property for the school. according to The Washington Post. The university is the city's largest private employer, and has seen its endowment grow from $200 million to nearly $1 billion under Trachtenberg.
ÿ While our school is of course different than GW, we cannot help but admire the committed leadership it has had all these years. AU has had so many presidents in the last two decades, it has been hard for a positive or stabilizing mark to be left.
Unfortunately, Trachtenberg's resignation could come at an inopportune time for AU as we can't help but wonder whether presidential candidates will be drawn to GW.
We hope the Board of Trustees will look for people the caliber of Trachtenberg who will enhance AU's name.
