For now, Kennesaw State University’s Ken Harmon is staying right where he is in Cobb County.
The school’s current provost and vice president of academic affairs rescinded his application Thursday to become president of Florida Gulf Coast University.
"My decision was not about anything negative at FGCU,” Harmon said in a statement. “Instead, I have had quite formative discussions with President (Sam) Olens about staying here, and I love KSU and this community. After significant discussions with my family, we decided this was where we wanted to be."
According to local reports out of Florida, it was down to Harmon and one other person for the position.
He told the Florida school's executive search committee Witt/Kieffer "he had withdrawn due to accepting an offer to stay at Kennesaw from President Olens," said Susan Evans, FGCU spokeswoman.
Sam Olens recently took the helm at KSU after decade-long leader Dan Papp suddenly retired in the wake of an audit showing he and several other top school officials had broken financial and contract rules.
One of Florida’s 12 public institutions, FGCU is in Fort Myers a straight shot across the peninsular state from Miami.
"Harmon was an impressive presidential candidate, and it's not surprising Kennesaw would want to keep him,” Evans said. We wish him all the best, and hope to see him at FGCU-Kennesaw athletic competitions in the Atlantic Sun Conference.”
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