Davenport withdraws from Old Dominion

August 29, 2008 11:30 pm

— Minnesota State University President Richard Davenport has withdrawn from consideration as Old Dominion University’s next president.
Davenport was one of two finalists for the position at the Norfolk, Va., school.
The other finalist, State University of New York President Deborah Stanley, has also withdrawn.
“I had been aggressively pursued, I understand, because of the reputation I established for accomplishments at Central Michigan University and Minnesota State University,” Davenport said in a prepared statement.
“I want the Minnesota State, Mankato community to know that it is largely because of your hard work and impressive achievements that my name is periodically brought to the attention of presidential searches.”
Prior to both withdrawals, faculty leaders at Old Dominion urged the search committee to find stronger candidates to replace Roseann Runte, who left in June for the same position at Carleton College in Ottawa, Canada.