Former administrator named interim president

Michael Reardon, a former Portland State provost and vice president, was named interim president Friday, and will lead PSU until the State Board of Higher Education appoints a permanent president.

Reardon will take the helm of PSU on June 15, when current President Daniel Bernstine leaves the university for a new job at the Law School Admissions Council. Reardon worked at PSU for 40 years as a professor of history and in the Honors College, as well as for seven years as the provost and vice president of PSU from 1992-99.

George Pernsteiner, chancellor for the Oregon University System, said he hopes to have the search committee for a permanent president interviewing candidates by the fall. He said he hopes the committee will be able to conduct interviews with a narrowed down field of applicants by Jan. 1, 2008.

He said it is possible that a permanent president could be chosen by Feb. 1. Student body President Rudy Soto is on the search committee.

Pernsteiner said he choose Reardon because he felt it was important to keep the current administration intact, a group of people he said works well together. Pernsteiner considered each of the PSU vice presidents for the interim spot, but said Reardon’s experience and knowledge of PSU made him the best fit.

This isn’t the first interim position Reardon has filled at Portland State. He was interim PSU provost and vice president during the 2004-05 year, before Roy Koch was hired for that position.

Reardon has received local and nation awards for his work as a scholar and administrator. Reardon also served as the director of the University Honors Program and the vice provost for Academic Affairs. He left PSU in 1999.

Bernstine, who has been one of PSU’s longest serving presidents, will move to Newton, Pa. for the job as CEO and president of the Law School Admissions Council. The council is a non-profit organization that administers the Law School Admittance Test (LSAT) to students who hope to attend one of its 200 member law schools.

Watch for updates on Reardon and the presidential selection process at www.dailyvanguard.com.