Eastern Wyoming College President Lesley Travers tendered her resignation on Friday, effective immediately. Travers had announced in October that she was retiring when her contract expired in June.
      The college began a presidential search earlier this year, but the Trustees last month rejected the 3 finalists that had come out of that process, saying they didn’t align with the current needs of the school
      The board had planned to name an acting president this week, but after receiving Travers’ resignation the board called an emergency executive session and named Dr Richard Patterson as Interim President.Â
      Patterson holds bachelor’s, master’s, and educational specialist degrees from Chadron State College and was Travers’ predecessor as EWC president.
    Trustees Chairman Robert Baumgartner issued a statement saying the board thanked Dr Travers for her service and wished her well in her retirement.
     The statement also said the board was committed to finding the best presidential fit for EWC, one who will focus on students and build a strong future.