Statement from Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez on resignation of UM President Donna Shalala

(MIAMI, September 8, 2014) –  "I am saddened to hear that President Donna Shalala will be stepping down as President of the University of Miami at the end of the 2014-15 academic year.  Donna became a community institution and won the hearts of ‘Canes and all Miami-Dade residents through her commitment to improving our community.

"She is a woman of extraordinary academic and political achievement, having served as Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Clinton Administration.

"Donna could have gone anywhere and been successful, but she came here to Miami-Dade.  She took an already successful institution and gave it the “Momentum” it needed to make it one of the top universities in the nation.  What’s best about Donna is that she never turned down an opportunity to work cooperatively.  All anyone ever had to do was pick up the phone with an idea and Donna would be the first one to join.  She always understood the power of service, and she made Miami-Dade County a better place because of it."