Although the board of regents ended up unanimously choosing him, one regent did voice concerns about Bollinger's outspoken style on politicized issues.

Bollinger continues to speak out now.

"It's a time of tremendous innovation and excitement," he says. "The life sciences are facing a revolution in knowledge, the arts are sources of high creativity and the social sciences and professional schools on a whole are doing extremely well."

In recent months, Bollinger made national headlines again with his testimony in two class-action lawsuits brought against the university's affirmative action policy. Despite attacks that say that the policy is a form of reverse descrimination, Bollinger maintains that the policy is an essential means of ensuring diversity on campus.

University of Michigan Provost Nancy E. Cantor describes Bollinger as a "superb leader."

She praises Bollinger's "broad sense of the academic mission" and cites the university's recent Life Sciences Initiative--a $130 million project that will expand the university's research facilities--as an ideal example of Bollinger's innovation.

Jefferson K. Porter, director of development for the institute, says he was impressed by Bollinger's willingness to delve into an area unfamiliar to him not because of a personal interest, but because he "realized that it was for the greater intrinsic good of the university."

"He's somebody who really is able to distill the fundamental issues, recognize exciting concepts and bring others along in that conversation," Porter says.