Philip Zelikow, counselor to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and former executive director of the 9/11 Commission, announced his resignation Monday and said he plans to return to the University. Zelikow, the former director of the Miller Center of Public Affairs prior to his stint in Washington, plans on returning to his position at the University as history professor in the College of Arts & Sciences.
Zelikow plans to return to the University after having acted as counselor for the past year on a variety of issues, including the war in Iraq, U.S. foreign policy and national security.
Zelikow said that although he officially announced his resignation and plan to return Monday, he discussed it with Ed Ayers, dean of the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, prior to this week.
"It was time for me to return to the University," Zelikow said. "The University has essentially been holding a chaired professorship for me."
Zelikow's letter of resignation, addressed to Rice, made clear that his "long-standing debt to [his] family has also come due, along with some truly riveting obligations to college bursars" for his children's education.
Zelikow plans on returning to teaching as of next semester. He is scheduled to teach an introductory seminar and a class on World War II.
"I'm not teaching any current events classes yet," Zelikow said.
It is unclear if Zelikow plans to return to his previous position at the Miller Center, Miller Center spokesperson Lisa Todorovich said. "As far as we know now, he is only returning to his history teaching position at the University."
Zelikow added, however, that he contacted the Miller Center Tuesday morning, and "they know I am and will continue to be a friend of the Miller Center."
His resignation from the State Department is effective January 2, 2007.
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