UO board sets special meeting to appoint interim president

The Board of Trustees of the University of Oregon will vote on appointing Patrick Phillips as interim president of the university during a special board meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 16, at 8 a.m.

Phillips will take over for President Michael H. Schill, who is leaving the UO to become president at Northwestern University.

Phillips currently serves as the provost and senior vice president, a post he has held since July 2019. He first joined the university as a biology faculty member in 2000 and has since served in a number of leadership roles including head of the Department of Biology, associate vice president for research, special adviser to the president, and inaugural executive director of the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact. If appointed, his term will begin Aug. 20.

The board also will consider employment contract amendments for Athletic Director Rob Mullens and for Dana Altman, coach of the UO men’s basketball team.

The meeting will be conducted remotely with a livestream and telephone link available for public access. The livestream link and phone number, as well as the agenda and materials for the meeting are available on the board website.