LOUISVILLE, Ky. — In a surprising turn of events, University of Louisville President Kim Schatzel resigned on Wednesday, just months after receiving a glowing job review. The university’s Board of Trustees announced the resignation following a closed-door session at a special meeting held at Grawemeyer Hall on the Belknap Campus.
Gerry Bradley, a former executive vice president for academic affairs and provost at U of L, was appointed as the new permanent president. Bradley, who had served in interim roles at the university, including as provost from 2022 to 2024, stepped into the leadership role with immediate effect.
The resignation of Schatzel, who had led the university since February 2023, came as a shock to many, especially after her performance was described as “strong” in an official evaluation just last summer. Trustees commended her leadership during the July 2024 board meeting, highlighting her efforts in increasing enrollment, enhancing student retention, and elevating U of L’s status as a research institution.
Despite her strong performance, the resignation was framed as “mutual” in an agreement made public Wednesday evening. As part of the deal, Schatzel will receive $400,000 plus deferred compensation over the next month, in addition to $300,000 in monthly installments starting April 15. The agreement also includes a “mutual non-disparagement clause.” Schatzel’s annual base salary had been set at $925,000.
In a statement, Board Chair Diane Medley expressed appreciation for Schatzel’s contributions, noting that the president had “built a team that has increased enrollment and retention and grown the university’s reputation as a research powerhouse.” However, Medley declined to provide specific details about the reasons for Schatzel’s departure. She noted that both Schatzel’s goals and the university’s objectives had evolved, making the leadership change necessary.
“We were very pleased with how things had gone with the legislature, with some of the programs that were being initiated,” Medley said in a brief interview following the meeting. “But, with any position, times change. The goals of Dr. Schatzel changed. Our goals changed, and we were very fortunate to have had the ability to name Dr. Bradley, who had already been here so we wouldn’t lose any momentum.”
The timing of the resignation has raised eyebrows, as Schatzel had recently been active in promoting U of L’s achievements. In her annual address to the university community in February, she celebrated “record-breaking” enrollment numbers and historic levels of student retention. Furthermore, Schatzel had represented U of L at high-profile events, including accompanying U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey to President Donald J. Trump’s State of the Union address earlier this year.
Just a day before her resignation, Schatzel had declined to comment on her job status during a phone interview, raising questions about her future at the university.
Bradley, who had recently been named to a high-ranking position at the University of Cincinnati but rescinded the offer just days prior, now faces the task of leading U of L during a period of uncertainty. In a statement following his appointment, Bradley expressed his commitment to continuing the university’s success.
“My heart is at the University of Louisville,” Bradley said. “We have a team in place that can take this university to greater heights. Our recent successes combined with our rich academic history will help us build a community where all students, faculty, and staff have the chance to succeed.”
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, who appoints the U of L board, has said he is monitoring the situation but has not commented further as of Wednesday evening.
Schatzel’s resignation comes as a surprise given her positive job review and her involvement in several initiatives aimed at improving the university. With her exit, questions remain about the underlying reasons for the leadership change, and what this shift means for the future of the University of Louisville.
