Gerlach resigns from ECU

Around 1 p.m. on Saturday, Joshua Ellis, associate vice president for Media Relations of the UNC System, sent a press release regarding East Carolina University’s Interim Chancellor Dan Gerlach’s resignation. 

 In the press release, UNC System Interim President Bill Roper said he accepted Gerlach’s resignation which is effective immediately. 

 “East Carolina University Interim Chancellor Dan Gerlach has submitted his resignation, effective immediately, which I have accepted. I believe that this action is in the best interests of the entire East Carolina University community. I have begun the process of identifying the next interim chancellor for ECU and will share more information with the university community as soon as possible,” Roper said in the press release. 

Gerlach’s resignation statement was included in the press release sent by Ellis. The statement said that Gerlach believed he had not lived up to ECU’s creed of “members of our academic society exemplify high standards of professional and personal conduct at all times.”

In the statement, Gerlach said he did not model the behavior that ECU tried to teach students. He said he believes his shortcoming was “significant enough” that his resignation would be in the best interest of ECU.    

“Make no mistake: the responsibility is mine. It is not the press, not the University or system leadership, and not anyone else who put me in this situation. It was I who made the choices that led to this action. There is no one to hold accountable for the situation except me,” Gerlach said in the statement. 

Gerlach said he feels regret towards his family and close colleagues at ECU and at the UNC System and in Pirate Nation. 

Gerlach said in the statement that he came to ECU to “reduce the drama” at the university but ultimately ended up adding to it. He said he hopes the community forgives him and will focus on supporting the leadership at ECU. 

“I will miss ECU and Greenville because the people are incredible and the entire community full of promise and hope. I thought before I arrived in May that I knew how fantastic Pirate Nation was, is and will be. I had no idea. It’s far better. I am thankful for being part of it for a short time,” Gerlach said in the statement.