By Joseph Ryan

Administration editor

Eastern President Carol Surles returned to campus Monday after a four-month sick leave for breast cancer treatment.

Since Dec. 1 Surles has been residing in Florida to begin a chemical program and to continue physical therapy.

Phone calls to Surles’ office went unreturned Monday.

Surles was diagnosed with breast cancer in early September and underwent surgery Sept. 18. Because of an early detection of the breast cancer, the prognosis has been good.

“I came back right after the surgery, and the surgeon said it probably wasn’t the best thing to do, but I wanted to get back to finish the (faculty) contract,” Surles previously said. “I don’t ever stop.”

Surles was scheduled to return on Feb. 28, but her leave was extended to Monday by the Board of Trustees at their Feb. 23 executive committee meeting.

“I appreciate the Board’s kindness and support during this rather awkward juncture in my career,” Surles said after receiving the extension.

Surles said the extension would allow her to visit the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas to obtain comprehensive and coordinated evaluation and further treatment.

During Surles’ absence she remained in contact with the interim chair of the BOT, Nate Anderson and members of the President’s Council.

“Fortunately technology has made it possible for me to maintain a close linkage to the university,” Surles said at the time.

Surles was hired as Eastern’s president on March 1, 1999 with a three-year rolling contract.

Before Surles’ position as Eastern’s president, she served as president of Texas Women’s University for about five years.

In her 26-year career in higher education, Surles’ served in administrative positions at California State University (Hayword), Jackson State University in Mississippi, University of Michigan in Flint and University of Central Florida in Orlando.