Temple president likely headed to U of Arizona

The news wasn't all bad today for Temple President Ann Weaver Hart.

On the same day Gov. Corbett announced a 30 percent budget cut to her school and some other state colleges, the University of Arizona named her as its sole candidate for president.

Hart had announced her departure as Temple's president in September, saying she wanted to move to Utah to care for her ailing mother.

She is in her sixth year as president. Hart declined comment.

"President Hart has seen Temple through a period of great accomplishment and progress," Temple Board of Trustees Chairman Patrick J. O'Connor said in a prepared statement. "Temple's reputation as one of the nation's great urban research universities continues to rise. We wish President Hart well at the University of Arizona."

Hart will visit the Arizona campus on Feb. 13 to meet with students, faculty and staff and the board of regents then will vote on her candidacy, according to an announcement on the school's web site.

"Dr. Hart is a dynamic leader with a distinguished resume and an impeccable track record of successfully managing and advancing world-class research institutions," Fred DuVal, chair of the Arizona board, said in a prepared statement.

"We are extremely pleased that Dr. Hart has agreed to pursue the presidency at the UA. Her extensive background as an accomplished chief executive officer and experience in academic medicine will be a tremendous asset to the UA and the entire state."

Before coming to Temple, Hart served as president of the University of New Hampshire and provost and vice president for academic affairs at Claremont Graduate University.

Contact staff writer Susan Snyder at 215-854-4693 or ssnyder@phillynews.com or @ssnyderinq on twitter.