Mt. Mercy President Resigns After Just Two Months

The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that after just two months on the job, Mt Mercy University President Robert Beatty has stepped down. Beatty, the schools 10th president, resigned just two days after the delayed fall semester began at the school. The university did not release details as to why Beatty decided to stop down.

The Gazette reports that Mt Mercy and its Board of Trustees have appointed Tim Laurent, provost and vice president of academic affairs, as the interim president for the school. In a statement the school said "we thank Dr. Beatty for his time at Mt Mercy and wish him well in his future endeavors. We also thank Dr. Laurent for stepping in to serve as interim president."

Mt Mercy announced back in February that Beatty would be taking over for outgoing President Laurie Hamen, who was going back to Minnesota to be closer to her family. Beatty began his term at Mt Mercy on July 1st. Like every other college in the nation, the school was preparing for the upcoming school year in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The fall semester was delayed because of concerns over the virus. Then came August 10th and the derecho. Like most areas in Cedar Rapids, the campus suffered widespread damage.

The Gazette reports that Beatty was a Cedar Rapids native and was returning to Iowa from the University of Texas at Tyler. At the time of his hire, Beatty stated that "Mt Mercy University is truly a special place."