Search For Felner's Replacement To Resume In The Fall

by Gabe BullardUniversity of Louisville officials are suspending their search for a permanent replacement for former Education Dean Robert Felner, who was recently sentenced to 63 months in prison for charges related to the misuse of federal funds.Since 2008, the College of Education has had an interim dean. The national search for Felner's replacement began last year and yielded three finalists, all of whom were rejected.U of L spokesperson Mark Hebert says the college's faculty and staff could not unite behind any single candidate. He says the staff's decision was not influenced by their experience with Felner."I don't think what happened with Dean Felner had anything to do with this search," he says. "It happens all the time in higher education where you go through a list of candidates, you interview them all, you bring them to your campus and it just doesn't pan out."The search for a dean will begin anew this fall. Hebert says officials hope to have the new dean in place by the start of classes in fall of next year.