Courant surprised by ouster of UVa president Sullivan, his successor as U-M provost

The abrupt dismissal of University of Virginia president Teresa Sullivan has spurred students and faculty to rally for her reinstatement.

Faculty on the campus of Sullivan's previous post, the University of Michigan, also are voicing their support. Ford School professor Paul Courant, Sullivan's predecessor as the University's provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, told Bloomberg Businessweek that she was well liked by students and colleagues in Ann Arbor.

"She was a successful university administrator who paid a lot of attention to long term-issues that might affect the university," Courant told Businessweek. "I always thought she was very good at managing up, which made this event surprising to me."

Update: On June 26, 2012, The University of Virginia's board reinstated Teresa Sullivan as president.