Search for new UA provost down to trio of candidates
By Eric Swedlund
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
If you go
The provost finalist forums will each take place in the Student Union North Ballroom from 4 to 5:30 p.m.
• Meredith Hay, vice president for research at the University of Iowa — Tuesday
• Pramod P. Khargonekar, dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Florida — Jan. 31
• Robert D. Newman, dean of humanities and associate vice president for interdisciplinary studies at the University of Utah — Feb. 4
Q&A with the finalists
Meredith Hay:
Declined to comment.
Robert D. Newman:
What do you see as the greatest opportunities at the UA?
• UA is poised to set a model for the direction of 21st century public higher education. It is positioned at the border geographically, demographically and programmatically. Its challenges to build sustainable and effective bridges can, in many ways, also serve as its greatest advantages.
How can the UA's student retention and graduation rates be improved?
• By extensive and effective advising, and by addressing pedagogical delivery through predictable, collaborative, flexible and innovative approaches.
Arizona's state budget is facing a deficit. How can the UA continue to meet its goals in the face of potential budget cuts?
• By generating new and enhanced revenue streams through fund-raising, external grants, investments, collaborative partnerships and commercialization. It remains essential, however, that the state recognize and support the university as its primary asset for present and future vibrancy in a knowledge-based economy.
Pramod P. Khargonekar
What do you see as the greatest opportunities at the UA?
• The University of Arizona . . . is already among the best public research universities in the nation and the world. There is now a wonderful opportunity for UA to join the ranks of truly great public research universities by further enhancing the quality of its academic and research programs. Arizona is one of the fastest-growing states in the nation with a diverse population, unique environmental setting and leading-edge industries. In this exciting setting, UA can be a world leader in how a land-grant public research university can help improve quality of life and solve pressing societal problems.
How can the UA's student retention and graduation rates be improved?
• Student retention and graduation rates . . . can be improved by focusing efforts on the preparation of entering students for success at UA, financial aid, student advising, access to critical courses, etc. At the University of Florida, significant success in retention and graduation rates has been achieved by making these types of efforts with the result that our six-year graduation rate exceeds 80 percent.
Arizona's state budget is facing a deficit. How can the UA continue to meet its goals in the face of potential budget cuts?
• Let me begin by observing that most state universities are facing similar budget challenges with declines in state revenues. In order to meet goals in the face of such challenges, we need to continue to articulate the critical importance of UA for the future of Arizona, we need to be creative and entrepreneurial in attracting new resources, we need to increase philanthropic and private support for UA's teaching, research, and service programs, and we need to ensure that all the resources are being used most efficiently to maximize the success of our students, faculty and staff.
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The search for a new University of Arizona provost has narrowed to three finalists.
UA President Robert Shelton announced Wednesday that the 27-member search committee has settled on three candidates, all top scholars and current administrators at major public research universities.
As part of two-day campus visits starting next week, each candidate will participate in an open public forum.
The finalists are: Meredith Hay, vice president for research at the University of Iowa; Pramod P. Khargonekar, dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Florida; and Robert D. Newman, dean of humanities and associate vice president for interdisciplinary studies at the University of Utah.
All three finalists have been considered for top administrative posts at other universities. Hay was a finalist for the University of New Mexico president position in 2007. Khargonekar was a candidate for the provost job at Florida in 2004. In 2006, Newman was named a finalist for provost at the University of Texas at Austin.
The search for a new chief academic officer and second-in-command at the UA began last February, when Executive Vice President and Provost George Davis announced he was stepping down after seven years to return to research and teaching.
Shelton chose Vicki Chandler, director of the Bio5 Institute, as the chairwoman of the search committee.
Davis stepped down June 30 and Eugene Sander, the UA's agriculture dean and vice president for outreach, has been serving as interim provost.
The committee received 113 nominations for provost, and of those, 61 formally applied.
Hay in post since 2005
Hay joined the University of Iowa in 2005 after serving as assistant to the vice president for academic affairs at the University of Missouri system and director of the National Center for Gender Physiology at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
A Texas native, Hay earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Colorado, Denver, a master's degree in neurobiology from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and her Ph.D. in cardiovascular pharmacology from the University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio.
Khargonekar dean since 2001
Khargonekar has been dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Florida since 2001. He announced last month he was stepping down as dean at the end of the academic year.
Prior to becoming dean, Khargonekar was a professor of electrical engineering and computer science at the University of Michigan for 12 years, also serving as chairman of electrical engineering and computer science for four years. Before Michigan, he also held faculty positions in electrical engineering at the University of Florida and University of Minnesota.
Born in India, Khargonekar earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in Bombay, and a master's degree in mathematics and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering, both from the University of Florida.
Newman at Utah since 2001
Newman joined the University of Utah as dean of the College of Humanities in 2001 and also serves as the associate vice president for interdisciplinary studies.
Before Utah, Newman was a professor and chair of the English department at the University of South Carolina for six years. He was also a faculty member at Texas A&M University and the College of William and Mary.
Newman has a bachelor's degree in English from Pennsylvania State University, a master's degree in literature and aesthetics from Goddard College and a Ph.D. in English from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
If you go
The provost finalist forums will each take place in the Student Union North Ballroom from 4 to 5:30 p.m.
• Meredith Hay, vice president for research at the University of Iowa — Tuesday
• Pramod P. Khargonekar, dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Florida — Jan. 31
• Robert D. Newman, dean of humanities and associate vice president for interdisciplinary studies at the University of Utah — Feb. 4
Q&A with the finalists
Meredith Hay:
Declined to comment.
Robert D. Newman:
What do you see as the greatest opportunities at the UA?
• UA is poised to set a model for the direction of 21st century public higher education. It is positioned at the border geographically, demographically and programmatically. Its challenges to build sustainable and effective bridges can, in many ways, also serve as its greatest advantages.
How can the UA's student retention and graduation rates be improved?
• By extensive and effective advising, and by addressing pedagogical delivery through predictable, collaborative, flexible and innovative approaches.
Arizona's state budget is facing a deficit. How can the UA continue to meet its goals in the face of potential budget cuts?
• By generating new and enhanced revenue streams through fund-raising, external grants, investments, collaborative partnerships and commercialization. It remains essential, however, that the state recognize and support the university as its primary asset for present and future vibrancy in a knowledge-based economy.
Pramod P. Khargonekar
What do you see as the greatest opportunities at the UA?
• The University of Arizona . . . is already among the best public research universities in the nation and the world. There is now a wonderful opportunity for UA to join the ranks of truly great public research universities by further enhancing the quality of its academic and research programs. Arizona is one of the fastest-growing states in the nation with a diverse population, unique environmental setting and leading-edge industries. In this exciting setting, UA can be a world leader in how a land-grant public research university can help improve quality of life and solve pressing societal problems.
How can the UA's student retention and graduation rates be improved?
• Student retention and graduation rates . . . can be improved by focusing efforts on the preparation of entering students for success at UA, financial aid, student advising, access to critical courses, etc. At the University of Florida, significant success in retention and graduation rates has been achieved by making these types of efforts with the result that our six-year graduation rate exceeds 80 percent.
Arizona's state budget is facing a deficit. How can the UA continue to meet its goals in the face of potential budget cuts?
• Let me begin by observing that most state universities are facing similar budget challenges with declines in state revenues. In order to meet goals in the face of such challenges, we need to continue to articulate the critical importance of UA for the future of Arizona, we need to be creative and entrepreneurial in attracting new resources, we need to increase philanthropic and private support for UA's teaching, research, and service programs, and we need to ensure that all the resources are being used most efficiently to maximize the success of our students, faculty and staff.
● Contact reporter Eric Swedlund at 573-4115 or at eswedlund@azstarnet.com.
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