The regents will take a road trip 30 miles northeast to the University's Dearborn campus tomorrow for their monthly meeting, where they will vote on University President Lee Bollinger's candidates for interim general counsel.
Bollinger has nominated Elizabeth Barry and Daniel Sharphorn to share the University's top attorney position until a permanent successor to Elsa Cole is named.
Cole was the first top University administrator to step down since Bollinger took office in February, setting the stage for the construction of Bollinger's administrative team.
If their nominations are approved by the Board of Regents at its monthly meeting, Barry and Sharphorn may assume the post as early as March 14. Although Cole's resignation is not effective until May 16, the two-month overlap will serve as a period of transition.
"I would like to continue the tradition that this office has of providing excellent legal service to the University community," Barry said yesterday.
For Barry, an alumnus of the University's Law School, the role as the University's top attorney would be a familiar one. Prior to joining the University in 1996, she served as an attorney for Harvard University from 1994-96.
Sharphorn is also familiar with the general counsel's office, where he has served as assistant general counsel since 1987.
Sharphorn said he does not anticipate initiating any drastic mandates as interim general counsel.
"I don't think as interims we'll introduce any dramatic mandates," Sharphorn said. "We will continue to provide a full range of legal services the University provides."
Sharphorn also received his law degree from the University. He joined the University in 1982 as a policy advisor to former University President Harold Shapiro and also served as a research associate at the Institute for Social Research.
When Cole announced her resignation last month, Bollinger said a nationwide search would be conducted to find a permanent successor.
Cole was appointed by former University President James Duderstadt in 1986 and served as general counsel for eight years.
Also on this month's Board of Regents agenda is a report on the University's investments in 1996.
Traditionally, the regents stage at least one of its monthly meetings at the University's Dearborn campus.
"We annually hold one meeting in Dearborn in March and one in Flint in October so we have a presence on those campuses," said Regent Laurence Deitch (D-Bloomfield Hills). "It gives us a chance to interact with the faculty and staff of the campuses and it is very worthwhile."