VCU president steps down today
TIMES-DISPATCH FILE PHOTO
Eugene P. Trani last day at VCU is today.
VCU's Online tribute to Eugene Trani
His office is packed, his most recent book is finished, and Eugene P. Trani will serve his last day as president of Virginia Commonwealth University today.
His successor, Central Michigan University President Michael Rao, takes over tomorrow as head of the state's largest university.
Board of visitors member Anne G. "Panny" Rhodes, who becomes rector tomorrow, said the transition has been going smoothly.
"Dr. Trani has been very helpful to Dr. Rao," she said. The two have consulted, and Rao has kept in touch with board members by phone as he continued with his duties in Michigan, she said.
Rao, president of CMU through today, scheduled vacation days this week but is still conducting business by phone, said CMU spokesman Steve Smith.
"From a distance, he has done a really good job of trying to be ready" to assume his VCU responsibilities, Rhodes said.
Rao and his wife, Monica, who also will work for VCU, have bought a house in Henrico County.
No date has been set for his inauguration, Rhodes said.
"It's a challenging, interesting time," she said. "We've had an extraordinary president, and I look forward to another extraordinary president."
Trani has been feted with galas and receptions across Richmond during the final months of his 19-year tenure.
Trani will teach in VCU's Honors College in the fall of 2010 after a yearlong sabbatical.
His most recent book, "Distorted Mirrors: Americans and Their Relations with Russia and China in the Twentieth Century," was published last month.
He has just completed the manuscript on another, "The Indispensable University: How Higher Education Can Promote Economic and Community Development in the Knowledge Economy."
His final days as president have been filled with his regular meetings, VCU spokeswoman Pamela D. Lepley said.
"He's having a normal day," she said.
Contact Karin Kapsidelis at (804) 649-6119 or
.
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Reader Reactions
Rao has a lot to clean up from the Trani mismanagement. The entire school is operating in “how we see fit” attitude. Total arrogance, deception, and lies to the city and it’s people. The Rodney Monroe scandal is still alive and well. The department (University College) that signed off on Monroe’s degree is being run by unqualified individuals who aren’t paying the bills, conducting illegal activities, and mismanaging everything. There is even a person there who was awarded a degree inappropriately (much like Monroe) without completing the necessary coursework. It’s disgusting that most of the VCU community knows about this, even in greater detail than I know of.
Rao is going to come in and clean house. I’d hate to have that job.
Glad to see you go, Mr Trani. We also hope to see the deception, demolition of historic assets, arrogance and total disrespect and disregard for VCU’s neighboring communities go as well. Shew now. Git.
I’m appalled at the comments here.
Do you realize that Trani has HELPED this university establish itself as a major educational institution, and without his help, VCU would still be a tiny school on Shafer street? Sure, it’s had its problems, but I guarantee you, ALL do in some way.
He has done more for the university in securing much needed funds from the GA to enable the univ. to build proper buildings (using some former residences for classrooms, yes, I was a student at that time!) for classrooms, labs, and residence halls. He’s also bolstered the VCUMC campus into a major university medical center of international status. I have been a patient there, so I know the level of expertise available at a moment’s notice. It is a first rate medical institution with world-renown physicians on the cutting edge of medicine.
Lastly, it has produced a wide range of graduates providing the economic force for the region—medicine, communications, all of the arts, educators, scientists, engineers, psychologists, manufacturing, health professionals, etc.
Sure, Trani’s personality may have rubbed some people the wrong way, but after all, he’s human, like the rest of us.
We shall see how Rao does this coming year.
Godspeed, Dr. Trani, for a great 19 years.
“How Higher Education Can Promote Economic and Community Development” by selling out and working in collusion with corporations.
Not to mention breaking community promises.
Good riddance indeed.
Seriously, good riddance. Trani has proved to be liability to this great school in his later years. The old grump yelled at people at graduation, mismanaged the school, awarded promotions to people not qualified, and the Rodney Monroe degree scandal to top it all off. He overstayed his welcome. Maybe his candlelight dinners with Doug Wilder will still continue. Again, good riddance.
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