December 6th, 2019 by WCBC Radio

WBAL reports there will be new leadership at the University System of Maryland months earlier than expected  The system's Board of Regents announced Friday that Chancellor Robert L. Caret, who was supposed to step down next summer, will instead step down Jan. 6, 2020.

Caret will go on sabbatical and return to the faculty of Towson University next fall. Caret spent 27 years as a faculty member and administrator at Towson. He served as its president from 2003 to 2011, when he left to lead the University of Massachusetts System. He has led the University System of Maryland since 2015.

Dr. Jay Perman, the president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore will take over as chancellor. Dr. Bruce Jarrell, currently UMB's executive vice president and provost, will serve as UMB's interim president.

A university system spokesman said the moves allow the university system to have new leadership in place before the start of the legislative session.