He left calling the recent controversy “too great of a distraction.”

Inside Higher Ed reports.

President quits at Mount St. Mary’s

Simon Newman, the college leader whose metaphor about drowning bunnies made him infamous in higher education, announced late Monday that he has resigned, effective immediately, as president of Mount St. Mary’s University.

“I am proud of what I have been able to achieve in a relatively short time particularly in helping the university chart a clear course toward a bright future,” said a statement the university released from Newman. “I care deeply about the school and the recent publicity relating to my leadership has become too great of a distraction to our mission of educating students. It was a difficult decision but I believe it is the right course of action for the Mount at this time.”