Chicago - University of Illinois President Michael Hogan has resigned, two weeks after he had been asked by school officials to repair his fraying relationship with the faculty.

The resignation was announced in a letter from Christopher G. Kennedy, chairman of the school's board of Trustees. Kennedy said Hogan would stay on until July when longtime administrator Bob Easter will take over as interim president.

Hogan was hired in May 2010 from the University of Connecticut. He replaced B. Joseph White after White resigned during an admissions scandal.

"President Hogan joined the university at a very challenging time, when it had just weathered a long and very public controversy around admissions and enrollment practices, had major gaps in the administrative team, and was under such significant financial constraint that furloughs and salary freezes were required," Kennedy said in the letter.

"It has not been easy," he added. "Some of what Mike Hogan was compelled to do was not popular, but he did what this university needed over the past 20 months, and we thank him for his hard work, perseverance, and achievement."

Hogan has been under fire since early January, when his chief of staff, Lisa Troyer, resigned after being accused of posing as a faculty senator in anonymous emails sent to a faculty group to influence its debate. Troyer said she did not write or send the emails, but an outside investigation determined she was the likely author.

Earlier this month, the university's board of trustees directed Hogan to improve his relationship with the faculty, who questioned whether he could change his leadership style. Hogan said he planned to meet with deans, chancellors and faculty Senates at the university's three campuses to convince them otherwise.

"I'm optimistic that I can. I need to have a plan and a program to get out and respond to these people and to their concerns," he said at the time. "I moved too quickly without full consultation and deeply regret it. I want to reassure them they will be a full part of the process going forward and they will have a voice in the process."

University spokesman Tom Hardy said Hogan initiated discussions on resigning.

"He thought this would be an appropriate time to turn leadership over to somebody else," Hardy said. "I just think he felt that he had accomplished what he was asked to do and it was in the best interest of the university to step aside."

Hogan released a statement but did not address details of his resignation.

"While the university has faced some significant organizational and budgetary challenges over the past several years, we have initiated the reforms necessary to modernize and streamline our business functions and redirect the savings to academic purposes" he said.

"The underpinnings of this great institution are sound."

In announcing that Easter would be taking over from Hogan, Kennedy said Easter "stepped up for this university in some of our toughest days, as interim chancellor immediately following the disappointing and disruptive days of 2009, and he repaired and rebuilt the campus both literally and figuratively. Bob started at the U. of I. as a doctoral student, and then 36 years ago, as a faculty member.

"He has the trust of alumni and trustees past and present, as well as faculty, administrators and staff, and always, the best interest of students at heart."