LINCOLN PARK — DePaul University's provost resigned Friday six months after taking the job as the school's chief academic officer.
Donald Pope-Davis was named DePaul's provost in late February, leaving his previous position at the University of Notre Dame.
DePaul's president Rev. Dennis Holtschneider announced Pope-Davis' resignation to university staff Friday. The announcement gave no information on why Pope-Davis left the job so quickly.
"While words cannot express our regret that Don's service as provost was so short lived, I certainly respect his decision," Holtschneider wrote in the emailed announcement.
Pope-Davis did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.
Pope-Davis' resignation was effective immediately with the approval of the Board of Trustees, according to the email, and he was given a six-month sabbatical.
Following his sabbatical, Pope-Davis will teach and research as a fully tenured professor in the school's department of psychology, officials said.
Patricia O'Donoghue, who had served as interim provost for eight months before Pope-Davis took over, will return as the interim provost immediately.
A DePaul spokeswoman declined to discuss Pope-Davis' resignation, saying it is the university's policy not to discuss personnel matters.
"We are grateful to Don for serving as provost these past six months," Holtschneider wrote in the announcement. "He cares deeply about DePaul University. Please join me in wishing Don the very best in his future endeavors."
Pope-Davis was selected for the job after a national search. He was vice president and associate provost for Notre Dame before coming to DePaul.
When he was hired in February, Pope-Davis said he was excited to join DePaul.
"DePaul makes a significant and lasting impact in the world,” he said, according to a written statement from the university at the time. “I am thrilled and privileged to join its vibrant and diverse community of scholars, students and staff toward the realization of its great mission.”
