NEWS | October 24, 2003

Presidential Search
The Next Step
The third candidate to visit campus says UTA is the best place for him, and his current boss says the finalist has ‘president’ written all over him.

By Danny Woodward
The Shorthorn staff

For Roderick McDavis, it’s inevitable: He’s going to be a president.

Eugene Trani knows it. Trani, the longtime president at Virginia Commonwealth University, said Dr. McDavis, who’s his second in command, has “president” written all over him.

“I’ve known that from the first time I saw him,” Dr. Trani said. “It’s inevitable that VCU is going to lose him. It’s not if but when. Everybody’s been so pleased to have him, but we want what’s best for him.”

McDavis says what’s best for him is coming here. The provost and vice president for academic affairs at Virginia Commonwealth will be the third of five presidential finalists to visit campus when he arrives Monday.

He has had a long career in education, beginning 30 years ago as an assistant professor at tiny Siena Heights College in Michigan. He’s rocketed quickly — to the University of Florida, to the University of Dayton, to Arkansas and to his current assignment.

He’s been a professor, a dean, a vice president and a provost.

There’s only one step left for him, he says.

“For some time I have aspired to be president of a university,” he said. “I would certainly be thrilled and honored to be president of UTA. It’s a great university that could only get better.”

Though McDavis has yet to visit campus formally, he already has ideas for fixing its problems.

He says he would look for funds from the private and public sectors, including beginning a “major capital campaign.” He’d enhance research by developing partnerships with area businesses and other universities. And, what he’s done everywhere else — focus on academics.

“I’d like to try to enhance the quality of academic programs at UTA by working very closely with faculty and deans to try to assess the present quality and figure out a way to enhance it,” he said.

Rodman Webb, the associate dean for academic affairs in the University of Florida’s College of Education, said that’s right up McDavis’ alley.

“Roderick McDavis is a very dedicated, very thoughtful administrator,” Dr. Webb said. Webb was on the education faculty when McDavis was dean there (1994-99).

“He is very careful about finding the direction of a unit and finding its strengths,” he said. “He’s very thoughtful about planning and trying to organize units in support of those plans. He’s passionate about quality education for everyone, all the way from pre-kindergarten through university.”

Trani took it a step further. He said McDavis’ greatest concern is for students.

“He’s always asking about our students — the academic opportunities, the living opportunities — making sure we’re doing everything we need to do in terms of improving retention,” he said.

But there’s more to McDavis than his love for students.

Even as the chief academic officer at Virginia Commonwealth, he has focused on research, primarily in life sciences. Virginia Commonwealth is one of two universities nationwide — Cornell is the other — with a vice provost for life sciences; that person reports to McDavis.

That’s an experience McDavis said would help him here, where nanotechnology and engineering reign.

“UTA has the potential to be a top-tier research university based on the quality of academic programs and the potential to expand its research,” he said. “It can certainly become a great research university in a short amount of time. I’d love to be a part of a university that has a bold vision for its future.”

McDavis, then, is hoping that future includes him.

He would, however, inherit a university without much stability in its leadership. Since Robert Witt left the presidency in March, the provost and two vice presidents have departed.

Until he assembles his team, McDavis can work with anyone, Webb said.

“He’s collaborative,” he said. “He’s bright, very energetic, very hard working. And he’s likable.”

And, sooner or later, bound for a presidency. McDavis said he hopes it’s sooner.

“I can’t think of anything at this point that would make me change my mind,” McDavis said. “I’m just excited to be given this opportunity to take another step in the process.”

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