Edie leaves UW; national search starts

Robert G. Edie, vice president for university relations, has announced his resignation, effective June 30. Edie plans to pursue other professional and political opportunities.

Edie has been vice president since January 1996. Prior to that he spent 10 years as the director of government relations for the UW. In this role, he served as the University’s chief representative in Olympia.

“Bob Edie has given much to the University,” said UW President Richard L. McCormick. “A great deal of our success over the years explaining the importance of this institution to the state’s elected leadership and for securing adequate funding to maintain its excellence can be attributed to him and the work he has done. He has left his mark here, but feels it is time for new challenges and new horizons.”

“I am enormously proud of what I and my colleagues throughout the University have been able to accomplish together over the past 13 1/2 years,” said Edie. “I’m particularly pleased with the success we had this past legislative session to begin the process of restoring the University to a competitive financial position. I especially want to thank my colleagues in University Relations who worked so hard and so diligently to accomplish so much.”

McCormick has appointed David B. Thorud as acting vice president for University Relations, effective July 1. Thorud will serve in this role until Edie’s permanent replacement is in place. Thorud will continue to serve as dean of the College of Forest Resources.

A national search for the new vice president for university relations will begin later this month. The search committee will be chaired by Provost Lee Huntsman. ¶