While students were off campus enjoying spring break, administrators at Saint Louis University were changing the makeup of the Office of Preprofessional Health Studies’ staff.

Richard Sanker, who had served as assistant director since 2002, parted ways with the University on March 9 due to what he called “internal office issues.”

Sanker confirmed that he was “let go,” a decision that took him by surprise.

“I didn’t expect it,” he said. “It was entirely the administration’s call.” Sanker would not discuss the reasoning behind the administration’s decision, citing his desire to move past the issue.

He said he would miss working with SLU’s students and faculty.

“It was my favorite job of all time . I loved it,” he said. “The students . wanted to be something more significant . and the faculty was great too.”

His mid-semester exit ends a career with the University that stretched across two decades. Sanker received his undergraduate degrees, in biology and English, from SLU in 1995. He returned for his master’s in education and his doctorate in educational studies.

Sanker began working for the University in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions in 1995. After taking a year off to join the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, he returned to SLU to work in Student Educational Services in 1999, where he stayed until assuming his position in the Office of Preprofessional Health Studies in 2002.

Despite the abrupt nature of his departure, Sanker harbored no ill will toward the University.

“I don’t have anger,” he said. “I think [SLU’s] a great institution. As an alumnus, I support it 100 percent. Sometimes tough decisions are made, and I respect that.”

Sanker said he is considering several options for his future, all of which fall within the academic realm.

The sudden and unexplained departure has caused some students in the pre-professional health track to express concern.

Sanker’s departure will hit close to home for students in his Crossroads class, an orientation course for students in the Honors Program.

Vanessa Coe, an adviser in the Honors Program, has taken over in Sanker’s absence.

Jessica Baker, Honors Program coordinator, said Coe was a natural choice to fill in for Sanker.

“[Coe] was familiar with the course and what it required, and she already knew the honors students,” Baker said.

Administrators in the Office of Preprofessional Health Studies declined to comment further, deferring to the University’s official statement on the matter.

The University statement did not divulge the reasoning behind Sanker’s split with the University, focusing instead on reassuring wary students in the wake of his departure.

“The University generally does not comment on personnel matters,” the statement read. “[It] is important for students in the program to know that they remain our top priority. There is a plan in place to ensure that students will not experience any change or disruption of service or support. A search process to fill the position is under way, and the University expects to fill the position during the next several weeks.”

Charity Kaiser, the president of SLU’s chapter of Alpha Epsilon Delta, the national premed honors society, was caught off guard by Sanker’s exit from the academic department.

“I was really surprised and disappointed, especially with the timing of it in the middle of the semester and over spring break when no students were here to react to it,” she said.

Student response has veered toward concern for the state of the Office of Preprofessional Health Services. Kaiser said she wondered if the office would be “stretched too thin” without Sanker.

“We would all be unified in our concern that the pre-med program would continue to preserve the quality that it has,” she said.

AED met last night to address students’ concerns. The group’s leaders will then take those concerns to leaders in the Office of Preprofessional Health Studies.

Students also had a chance to write farewell letters to Sanker on index cards that were distributed during the meeting.

Sanker expressed surprise and gratitude in reaction to the students who were disappointed with his departure.

“It’s a great reward to know that they think that well of my work and my passion for the ideals of Jesuit education and for SLU,” he said. “I will miss them. I wish them the best in their future endeavors and encourage them to make the best of their SLU education.”