Regents
select Caldera as UNM's 18th President
The UNM
Board of Regents recently unanimously voted in a public meeting
to select Louis Caldera as the Universitys 18th president,
effective Aug. 1, 2003.
Caldera,
who currently serves as vice chancellor for University Advancement
at California State University (CSU) system, where he also is
president of the CSU Foundation, begins his employment at UNM
July 14, 2003, under the terms specified in his presidential
contract. However, current UNM President F. Chris Garcia will
continue as UNMs president until July 31, 2003, under
the terms of his contract to provide an opportunity for transition.
As UNMs
president, Caldera will receive an annual base salary of $270,000
and other benefits.
We
are very excited that the Regents have unanimously selected
Mr. Caldera to lead us to the next level. He is truly qualified
in every sense of the word, said Board of Regents
Vice President Jack Fortner.
I
am very excited, very delighted to be here today, Caldera
said. He recognized the tremendous effort of the Regents
to do all of the consultation that they did throughout
the search process. Caldera also praised UNMs past presidents
and UNMs great faculty. Its a tremendous honor
when you come to recognize all that has come before you to make
this the great University that it is, he said.
Before
the vote was taken to approve Calderas selection, UNM
Regent John M. Mel Eaves detailed the search process
and described it as the most open search process
ever conducted by UNM.
Following
the Regents vote, Caldera and his wife, Eva Orlebeke Caldera,
were escorted into the meeting room and greeted with a standing
ovation.
As vice
chancellor for University Advancement of The California State
University system, Calderas portfolio includes system-wide
fundraising and development programs, legislative affairs, community
relations, alumni affairs, public affairs and communications.
He also serves as president of the CSU Foundation.
Before
arriving at the CSU, Caldera held two appointed posts in the
Clinton administration. As secretary of the U.S. Army from 1998
to 2001, Caldera, together with the Armys chief of staff,
General Eric K. Shinseki, announced and set into motion a new
vision for a more versatile and highly deployable force. During
his tenure, Caldera also successfully led a reversal of recruiting
shortfalls and initiated a range of highly popular educational
programs for soldiers and potential recruits. As managing director
and chief operating officer of the Corporation for National
and Community Service from 1997 to 1998, Caldera ran the federal
grant-making agency that supports the volunteer service programs
AmeriCorps, the National Senior Service Corps and Learn and
Serve America.
Elected
to three terms in the California State Assembly, Caldera represented
the 46th District, located in and around downtown Los Angeles,
from 1992 to 1997. During his tenure, Caldera chaired several
business and finance committees, and was an active proponent
of measures to improve the lives of children, particularly in
the areas of education, foster care, and health and safety.
Prior to his election to the assembly, he worked as a deputy
county counsel for the County of Los Angeles and as an attorney
in private practice, including at the law firm of OMelveny
& Myers.
Caldera
has served on numerous boards and commissions. He is a member
of the Council on Foreign Relations. Recent honors include the
Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Award and the U.S.
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Chairmans Award.
Caldera
holds a bachelor of science degree from the United States Military
Academy, M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and Juris Doctor
from Harvard Law School. He and his wife Eva have three daughters,
Allegra, Sophia and Camille.