After 18 months of serving in a post that was supposed to last six or eight months, State University of New York Interim Vice Chancellor John Clark announced today that he is resigning Dec. 31. Clark took over in June 2007 for John Ryan, who left May 31, 2007. Clark, who was interim president of four SUNY campuses before being named vice chancellor, was appointed by the board as a visiting professor, to be paid $195,000 a year.

   Clark has joked that he is SUNY’s equivalent of a baseball relief pitcher. He has been paid $340,000 per year and has had the use of a car, driver, the chancellor’s residence in Albany and an apartment in New York City. He described his tenure as interim chancellor as the highlight of his career.

   Carl Hayden of Elmira, chairman of the Board of Trustees, said the search for a new chancellor has taken a lot longer than anticipated. There’s a possibility the search could be concluded by the end of the year, but there are other scenarios in which that may not be possible. The subcomittee heading up the search, which he heads, should have some news about new leadership for the 64-campus system by mid-December, he said.

   The subcommittee has some prominent candidates in the pool, and members recently interviewed a “remarkable” candidate and hope the person will agree to be added to the list, Hayden said.

   “This is not the easiest environment in which to be recruiting a new chancellor,” he said, referring to the state’s budget crisis and cuts to SUNY.

   In thanking Clark for his service, Hayden said he has served during what is arguably one of the most difficult times in SUNY’s history.

   Carl Wiezalis, the University Faculty Senate’s representative on the Board of Trustees, said faculty members appreciate the warm, collegial relationship they have had with Clark. Clark is the only chancellor who has made it to every Faculty Senate meeting, Wiezalis said.

   Before joining SUNY in 2003, Clark worked in public finance and muncipal bond research on Wall Street.