Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

It’s official: Regents name new UNLV president

Len Jessup

Geri Kodey / UNLV Photo Services

Len Jessup, dean of the University of Arizona Eller College of Management, was named UNLV’s next president on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014.

Updated Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014 | 6:45 p.m.

UNLV has its new president.

The Board of Regents voted 12-1 Tuesday to hire master fundraiser Len Jessup as president of UNLV. Jessup, dean of the University of Arizona's Eller College of Management, was awarded a 5-year contract with a base salary of $525,000, the highest ever for a university head in Nevada.

Jessup was introduced with a standing ovation from the regents and people in the audience. He will start on Jan. 5.

“I want to say how humbling this is and what an honor it is to be before you today,” Jessup said. “I’m thrilled to be here and I’m thrilled to be in this role.”

Jessup will enter the university as its 10th president in the midst of two major projects — the attempt to receive funding from the state for a medical school and reaching Tier One designation as a high-ranking university. The university is requesting about $27 million over the next two years to begin the medical school and needs to raise about $100 million from the community to build it.

His selection ended a national search for a new president to replace Neal Smatresk, who left the position to become president of North Texas University in November 2013.

“This is a pivotal moment for UNLV and the communities it serves,” Nevada System of Higher Education Chancellor Dan Klaich said. “I believe their selection of Dr. Jessup will be crucial in UNLV’s ongoing drive to become a national leader in higher education."

Don Snyder will remain as UNLV's acting president until Jessup takes office. He said he would assist Jessup in his transition and would remain involved at the university if he is needed, but primarily in an advisory role.

The selection process boiled down to three candidates: Georgia Regents University President Ricardo Azziz, UNLV Executive Vice President and Provost John Valery White and Jessup. The Board of Regents’ UNLV President Search Committee selected Jessup on Monday in a 5-1 vote.

The regents expressed hope during the selection process that White would remain on as provost. Some even felt that he could one day be president of UNLV, but wasn’t ready yet. After the meeting, Jessup said he heard a lot of high praise about White, but couldn’t make a decision yet if he would remain as provost.

“I’m looking forward to working with Don (Snyder) and Provost White and the rest of the team here at UNLV to make great strides,” Jessup said.

White offered congratulations to Jessup in a statement read by Regent Mark Doubrava.

“Educating students remains our core mission,” White said in the statement. “I ask the faculty, staff, students, alumni and community to embrace Dr. Jessup and do all we can to move forward with success.”

Before the near-unanimous approval of Jessup’s contract at the meeting on Tuesday, some regents expressed concern about Jessup’s contract.

“I thought we only paid coaches that much money,” joked Regent Rick Trachok, who is vice chairman of the board.

Regent Cedric Crear, who was the lone dissenter in the vote, questioned if Jessup is qualified enough to demand the highest salary.

“I just think it’s a huge risk; we’re rolling the dice, and I’ll preface that to say that this is not my chosen candidate,” said Crear, who supported White for president. “I hope I’ll be proven wrong.”

Klaich said the offer reflected Jessup’s experience. Jessup had served as a dean at Arizona and foundation president at Washington State University. At both places, Klaich said he showed ability to lead other deans and fundraise. He added that the salary was competitive with other president positions.

While in Arizona, Jessup helped the business school become a self-sustaining program without funds from the state and launch an important technology program. Meanwhile, he helped WSU launch a $1 billion fundraising campaign. He also was a tenured faculty member at Indiana University.

Other regents felt confident Jessup has the ability to lead UNLV to the next level.

“We are talking about taking a leap,” Regent Andrea Anderson said. “That’s what we were asked to do, and we are taking the recommendations of the community and university and taking that leap.”

Jessup said he plans to use his first days in office meeting with the community and university members to determine what the community needs. He said his focus will be on helping the university obtain Tier One status and a medical school.

Sporting a red tie and a UNLV lapel, Jessup said he was ready to begin what he hopes is a long career at UNLV.

“I can’t think of a better thing to be doing for the next five years, or the next 10 years,” Jessup said.

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