Herman Saatkamp Taking Medical Leave From Stockton University Immediately

About a week after announcing his resignation, Stockton University President Herman Saatkamp announced he was taking a medical leave effective immediately.

In his resignation letter to the Board of Trustees last week, Saatkamp referred to “past and present health considerations” as one reason he was resigning effective Aug. 31.

“It has become increasingly evident recently that I need to deal with these health issues more immediately,” Saatkamp said Tuesday morning. “Effective April 28, 2015, I will be taking a medical leave of absence.”

According to the University’s structure and contracts, Executive Vice President and Provost Harvey Kesselman will become the Acting President.

Kesselman will take over as the president at the University of Southern Maine on July 1.

“My original plan was to remain until at least August 31, thereby giving Stockton time to initiate a plan for situating an interim president while a search for the next president was underway,” saatkamp said. “It saddens me to have to leave this abruptly.”

“President Saatkamp’s health is paramount. He has provided us vision and leadership for 12 years,” Dean Pappas, Chair of the Stockton Board of Trustees, said. “We need to respect his health issues and concentrate on Stockton University’s future.”

Saatkamp was Stockton President for 12 years. He led a massive campus expansion that included an upgrade to University status.

During his period as president, Kesselman will have all the authority, powers, duties and responsibilities associated with the executive management of the University.

He will also three task forces that will include representation from the Board of Trustees, administration, faculty and staff. Those task forces will search for a president, while working on shared governance and the Atlantic City initiatives.

The committees will begin their work immediately, the Board of Trustees said Tuesday morning.