The process of picking someone to lead one of the nation’s top public university systems can be a difficult ordeal.
Last week, University of California officials announced that Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano was their choice to be the next UC president.
Citing her experience in government, UC Regent Sherry Lansing said in a press release that Napolitano is “a distinguished and dedicated public servant who has earned trust at the highest, most critical levels of … government.”
According to the UC website, Napolitano was unanimously selected by a special search committee to be the next UC president. The full UC Board of Regents will either accept or deny the committee’s recommendation today.
Although Napolitano’s experience in government is impressive, the Daily 49er editorial board was concerned about her lack of experience in the education sector.
Leading a large public university system like the UC requires the experience of working with students.
Nothing in Napolitano’s career, however, indicates that she has had experience understanding and campaigning for student’s needs.
Instead of being crowned immediately as the UC president, we think Napolitano should have started in a smaller role in the UC system and possibly worked toward the president seat.
By first working as a dean or vice president for a few years, Napolitano would better understand what it’s like to work on behalf of students.
But Napolitano won’t be a dean or vice president in the UC system. She’ll likely go straight to the president’s seat.
While she may not be the most logical candidate, she is definitely one of the most surprising.
Perhaps she will bring a breath of fresh air into the UC system.
With her wealth of experience in government, Napolitano could bring a more national perspective to the system. She could also strengthen talks with the state Legislature and campaign for increased funding toward higher education — so long as she sets her sights on what’s best for the UC.
If Napolitano is accepted as the system’s next president, we believe the UC Board of Regents should aim to keep her presidency as transparent as possible.
Maintaining a healthy system of checks and balances within the UC system would ensure that Napolitano works toward the best interests of students, something essential to the UC’s future success.
More important than ever is the need for a president to understand and campaign for student’s needs. If Napolitano can’t already do that, then the Board of Regents should help her along.