Danuser appointed interim vice president

UM system procedures are unlikely to change.

By Matt Reinig

Published Jan. 25, 2008

The UM system appointed Blake Danuser, a long-time human resources official for the system, to temporarily fill its most senior human resources position until a permanent replacement is found.

Danuser, the system's associate vice president for human resources, was appointed interim vice president for human resources.

He succeeds Ken Hutchinson, who retired at the end of 2007.

There are a number of immediate responsibilities and challenges involved in assuming the role, Danuser said.

"One topic of interest right now would be training of the employees in such areas as legal compliance, discrimination and sexual harassment," he said.

According to a UM system news release, Danuser has served 28 years in human resources for the UM system. He will retain his position as associate vice president after assuming his role as interim vice president.

"It's been a real challenge," Danuser said. "I have served as the associate vice president, and the greatest challenge I think is trying to do both jobs."

UM system spokesman Scott Charton said having Danuser serving as interim vice president would allow Interim UM system President Gordon Lamb and the advisory committee the luxury of a thorough, national search for a candidate to fill the position permanently.

"The committee interviews candidates for the permanent position," Charton said. "That panel has actually started some meetings."

The committee is at work and without a specified timetable because they are under the "very experienced" leadership of Danuser, Charton said. He said Danuser has been an "integral" part of the human resources operation and that he is familiar with the issues the UM system faces.

"This is a very smooth transition," Charton said. "We're comfortable with Dr. Danuser's leadership as an interim leader. You wouldn't really notice any change in procedures."

Charton said Danuser is not currently a candidate to hold the position permanently.

According to the news release, Danuser started his career in human resources at MU as a coordinator for employee relations. Before that, he served as MU's assistant admissions director.

He became an associate vice president in November 2002.