FAU President John Kelly has announced the resignation of provost Gary Perry after he spent almost 30 years at the university.

In an email sent Friday, Kelly said he was saddened by the news but is grateful for Perry’s help transforming “FAU into the nation’s fastest improving university.”

Since 2014, Perry has been responsible for directing the university’s academic programs, budget, and personnel as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. He began his career at FAU in 1989 as an associate professor of neuroscience.

During his 2006-2013 tenure as dean of FAU’s College of Science, enrollment in science programs increased 33 percent as the college grew to become FAU’s second-largest, with approximately 5,500 students, according to the South Florida Business Journal.

In the last four years, Perry appointed the first female dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science, Stella N. Batalama, launched a program for international students called Navitas, and upped the overall graduation rate from about 40 percent to nearly 50 percent.

Perry will resume teaching and researching after he finishes out the 2018-19 school year as provost, according to the email.

President Kelly said he will “soon begin a national search” for a replacement.

Check back with the University Press for updates.

Katrina Scales is the managing editor of the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected].