Mitch Daniels named president of Purdue University

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels on Thursday was officially named as the next president of Purdue University by the school's trustees in West Lafayette, Ind.

/ AP Photo/Michael Conroy

(CBS News/AP) WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels will become the next president of Purdue University when he leaves office in January.

Purdue University officials introduced Daniels as the school's new leader Thursday following a vote by the board of trustees. In accepting the position, Daniels said, "Effective immediately, I will recuse myself from any partisan political activities or commentary."

The 63-year-old Daniels will succeed France Cordova. She is stepping down next month after five years at Purdue's helm.

Daniels has served two terms as governor and is barred by state law from seeking a third term.

The former budget director under President George W. Bush had been mentioned as a possible presidential candidate but dashed GOP hopes last year when he said he wouldn't enter the race because of family considerations. He has also been suggested as a running mate for presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney but said repeatedly he wasn't interested.

Caroline Horn contributed.

[DoctorLAB]

Today is a very sad day for my beloved Purdue University. The Board of Trustees has selected Governor Mitch Daniels as the next president of Purdue starting in 2013. Incidentally, many of these trustees were appointed by the Gov. Daniels.

Gov. Daniels has demonstrated, during his tenure as the state's chief executive, a genuine antagonism to public education for both K-12 school, and institutions of higher education. The very thought that the Board of Trustees would entertain the notion, much less seriously consider Gov. Daniels as a suitable candidate for the position of president of Purdue is incomprehensible. I certainly am concerned that Gov. Daniels as Purdue's president may seriously jeopardize the core functions and reputation of Purdue if he applies the same principles of governance to Purdue.

What we need is a president with a vision for the future of Purdue that is able to maintain the high standards and regard that the name of Purdue has come to mean - I believe Gov. Daniels fails to meet that high standard.

See my complete letter to the Purdue Board of Trustees on LAB Notes at: http://www.munaud.org/LABnotes/

[vjhahn]

I wholeheartedly agree. And how ironic. Daniels slashed public K-12 education to its very core during his tenure as Governor. A visionary? Really? Cronyism at its worst. What an awful, awful decision.