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Greg Postel has been at his institution for 23 years. Although he is interim executive vice president for health affairs, he also stepped into the top role when the president resigned last summer. He talks about how he has tried to help the university move past its controversies.
Gregory C. Postel has spent 23 years at the University of Louisville and held numerous administrative positions at the institution's School of Medicine. He had a front-row seat to the series of controversies that James R. Ramsey faced as Louisville's president, including many FBI investigations involving campus officials, an embezzlement scandal, a National Collegiate Athletic Association inquiry, and scrutiny of the university's foundation. Mr. Ramsey resigned last summer amid the turmoil, after 14 years as president.
So why would Dr. Postel want the job of interim leader at such a difficult time? "When you work at an institution for 23 years," he says, "your desire is to do anything that you need to do to help the organization." He's also serving as interim executive vice president for health affairs.
Since becoming interim president, in January, Dr. Postel has led the university through a continuing NCAA investigation examining whether the Louisville men's basketball program should face additional sanctions after a former basketball official paid women thousands of dollars to entertain players and recruits. He has also worked with Louisville's accreditor to respond to concerns about possible undue political interference by Gov. Matt Bevin of Kentucky, and has overseen a series of changes made in the practices of the University of Louisville Foundation. An independent audit of the foundation was released last week.
Dr. Postel, who says he's interested in the permanent Louisville job, spoke with The Chronicle about how he's tried to help the university move past its controversies and its political and financial challenges.
TRANSCRIPT
SARAH BROWN: Hi, we're here today with Dr. Greg Postel. He's the interim president of the University of Louisville. Dr. Postel, welcome. Thanks so much for being here.
GREG POSTEL: Thanks for having me.
SARAH BROWN: So you've been at Louisville for 23 years, but you came to the interim president's role in January, is that right?
GREG POSTEL: That's exactly right.
SARAH BROWN: And you're also serving as interim executive vice...