UPDATE: Kent State President Lefton Announces Retirement

Editor's note: this story was updated at 12:30 p.m.

In what to many was unsurprising news, Kent State University President Lester Lefton announced his plans to retire effective July 1, 2014, after what will be eight years at the helm of Ohio's second-largest public university.

Lefton, 66, announced the news publicly in a university-wide email sent this morning.

"Kent State is well-positioned for the future, and the academic and physical transformations we have begun — across our campuses and our home communities, most notably, in Kent — will pave the way for an even more exciting future," Lefton's message read in part.

University media relations staff said Lefton would be unavailable for interviews today.

Lefton took over the helm at Kent State in 2006 in a move from Tulane University, where he had served as provost. He was chosen for the job at Kent State from an early field of 150 applicants.

News of his retirement plans came as unsurprising to many Kent residents and faculty members considering a recent move by the university to lease his home in Kent's River Bend neighborhood as part of an effort to create an official presidential residence for Kent State.

Linda and Lester Lefton sold their home last month for $700,000 to Cleveland investor Edward Cochran, who is now leasing the house to Kent State.

Kent Mayor Jerry Fiala said initially he was surprised by the news, which city officials recieved via a phone call from the president's office this morning.

"When the university made provisions to buy his house I thought ‘I think in the next few years he’s getting ready to retire or move on to his next job,'" Fiala said.

Bill Sledzik, an associate professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, expected forthcoming news of Lefton's retirement after word broke earlier this month of the house transaction.

"You look at, in terms of what his legacy is here, in terms of what he’s kind of set out to do, build the bridge to town, there’s a lot of good work there," Sledzik said. "You look at it now, it’s pretty much complete. So what’s the encore? This doesn’t surprise me at all."

Kent State spokesperson Eric Mansfield said the news broke publicly across the university community when Lefton emailed his announcement, but Lefton had been talking with university trustees and the administrative cabinet for several days about his pending retirement.

Kent State Board of Trustees President Jane Murphy Timken said in prepared remarks that Lefton's tenure at Kent State has been transformational.

Mansfield said a national search committee will take shape soon, giving the university about 15 months to find its next president.

"Through his comprehensive vision and relentless pursuit of excellence, President Lefton has strengthened Kent State’s position at the forefront of higher education,” she said. “He has led our university through an unprecedented period of advancement and growth in enrollment, academic standards and programs, student retention and graduation, faculty success, fundraising, winning athletics, and public-private investments in our campuses and surrounding communities. 

“Over the past seven years, Kent State has reached new heights – in fact, it is at the top of its game, and the board is committed to continuing this momentum,” Timken continued. “Seeking a new president who will move us to the next level will be the clear goal of our board.”

Lefton's presidency so far has indeed proven transformational both for the city and university.

On campus, the university has continued to set enrollment records like clock work each semester.

Fundraising dollars have climbed steadily through his efforts, including more than $260 million raised via the Centennial Campaign. 

At this spring's graduation, Kent State will confer 4,375 degrees, which is about a 13 percent increase from 2012, according to the university.

Downtown, Lefton served as a crucial partner to spark more than $100 million in redevelopment projects that include the new Kent State University Hotel and Conference Center, PARTA's Kent Central Gateway Transit Center, Acorn Alley and the Fairmount Properties three new, mixed-use buildings.

Lefton earns a base salary of $417,799. Last month, university trustees voted to give Lefton a contractually obligated bonus of $104,450, which is 25 percent of his base salary.

He took over the job from former president Carol Cartwright.

MORE COVERAGE:

• On Storify: Reaction to Retirement of President Lefton
• Kent State Touts Lefton's Achievements
• Kent State to Create Presidential Residence

Original story

Kent State University President Lester Lefton has announced he will retire at the end of his contract on July 1, 2014.

This summer Lefton will enter his eighth and final year as president of Ohio's second-largest public university — a position it achieved under his watch among many other development and expansion accomplishments.

Kent State spokesperson Eric Mansfield said Lefton notified the university community this morning via a letter, which was sent first to his cabinet of administrators — who had known in advance of today of his plans to retire — and then to the broader campus community.

"The moment seems just right for the university, for me, and for my family to begin the next chapter of my life," Lefton's letter reads in part.

Mansfield said a national search committee will take shape soon, giving the university about 15 months to find its next president.