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NEWS
| November 7, 2003
Presidential Search
Others lack finalist’s system
experience
Deans and faculty also note the
5th candidate’s previous work with Texas legislators.
By Jessica
Smith
The Shorthorn staff
Even a sudden illness couldn’t prevent Arthur Vailas from
impressing the faculty and students he met during his two-day visit.
Student Congress President Josh Warren said he felt bad for the
presidential finalist because he was sick and had been such a dynamic
speaker during preliminary “incognito” visits earlier
this year. But he said Dr. Vailas’ illness didn’t dampen
his presentation too much.
“Especially since he was sick, he did a great job,”
Warren said.
Vailas, the University of Houston System’s vice chancellor
for research and intellectual property management, is the last of
five presidential finalists to visit the university before the UT
System Board of Regents chooses the next president.
Faculty and staff said they liked his laid-back approach. Beth Wright,
Liberal Arts interim dean, met him at the deans’ luncheon
Wednesday. She said she likes the candidate, and her only concern
is “if we can get him.”
Wright called the finalist personable.
“He is extremely well-informed about the area, and he has
the best interests of everyone at heart,” she said.
Mostly, though, she liked that Vailas listens to and appreciates
faculty, as demonstrated through his extensive interaction with
both administrators and staff advisory councils in Houston. His
focus on varied fields of research, too, show that he would be a
great asset to the university, she said.
“He has the ability to make UTA a top-tier school in research,”
she said.
Engineering Dean Bill Carroll, who also met Vailas at the luncheon,
said the finalist has experience the others lack.
“He’s the only candidate in a system-level job, he’s
the only candidate whose job [involves research] and he’s
the only candidate from Texas,” he said.
Carroll said Vailas’ view of research is broad — not
concerned with only science and engineering — and he was pleased
with that.
Warren said Vailas’ experience with legislators and students
is encouraging. He said he is comforted that Vailas seemed to genuinely
care about interacting with students.
“He sounded like he almost missed it, and that is reassuring,”
he said.
Honors College Dean Robert McMahon said he was impressed with Vailas’
experience but could not tell who would make the best leader of
the five candidates. He said the search committee did well in selecting
the finalists.
“All of the candidates have a good knowledge of UTA, where
it’s going in the future and how to get there,” he said.
And though Wright was impressed with Vailas, she said it’s
hard to compare the candidates.
“It’s awfully difficult because the candidates have
such different backgrounds and styles,” she said.
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