On December 9, 2011, Berdahl announced that he had been asked by the Oregon State Board of Higher Education to serve as the interim president of the University of Oregon. On November 28, 2011, the board gave Richard W. Lariviere 30 days to leave his office. Berdahl had written an editorial supporting Lariviere. Berdahl took office on December 29, 2011 and will serve until fall 2012 when his successor is named.