By Associated Press
Montgomery, AL – Renee Culverhouse cited health reasons for stepping down as interim chancellor of the state's troubled two-year college system Tuesday. Her resignation comes after just two months in the position and less than two weeks after school board members voted 5-to-4 to approve her contract.
Culverhouse, in a statement, said that a "chronic, serious, degenerative disease" that she was diagnosed with about two years ago is no longer in remission and she is "experiencing a renewal of symptoms accompanied by extreme pain."
The resignation letter did not name the disease.
Culverhouse said her resignation is effective immediately and she will return to her post as president of Gadsden State Community College once she has had some time off.
She was chosen as the replacement for Thomas Corts, who resigned as interim chancellor February 28th after members of the Alabama Board of Education expressed concerns about his job performance.
Culverhouse's departure comes amid questions about her willingness to clean up the embattled system.
Governor Bob Riley voted not to hire Culverhouse last month, because he said she did not support his proposed policies against double dipping and "no work" jobs in the system.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)