The University of New Mexico

NEWS RELEASE

Media Contact: Susan McKinsey, 505-277-1989

April 12, 2006

UNM Regents Announce Interim Leadership Team
Proven Academic/Administrative Team to Guide UNM

The University of New Mexico Board of Regents has named a three-person management leadership team to serve on an interim basis until a permanent president is named in the spring of 2007.

The team consists of three members with strong, proven academic and leadership credentials. Each member of the team will have full authority to perform their responsibilities in consultation with the regents as appropriate. Advantages of this new structure over the interim president model are that it saves the additional expense of hiring an interim president, provides continuity and stability within the university, continues progress on key initiatives and allows UNM to concentrate fully on its search for the next president. Additionally, all three individuals are strongly committed to diversity within the university.

The three members of the presidential leadership team are:

•  As acting president and chief operating officer, David Harris will be the principal administrative officer responsible for all UNM operations, financial and administrative matters not covered by the other leadership team members. As the acting president, Harris has the authority to make the final decision should the three members not be in consensus over any issues relating to UNM.

•  As chief academic officer, Reed Dasenbrock, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, will be the senior official with full authority and responsibility for all academic matters including teaching, research, branches, admissions, registration, curriculum, graduation, faculty personnel matters and student affairs.

•  As chief executive and academic officer for the Health Sciences Center, Paul Roth, MD, Executive Vice President for Health Sciences, will be the senior official with full authority and responsibility for all issues regarding teaching, research, faculty personnel matters and student affairs within the Health Sciences Center. He will have full authority and responsibility for all academic health related programs, hospitals, clinics and affiliated health care programs.

The UNM Board of Regents has determined that appointing an interim leadership team will provide UNM with stability and momentum throughout the presidential search process. The interim leadership team will ensure:

  1. a competent leader is in place as acting president and UNM finances and operations are managed and protected;
  2. academic issues are led by an individual with strong, demonstrated academic and leadership credentials; and
  3. the Health Sciences Center is fully supported by proven administrative and academic leadership.

The interim management structure will only be in place until the new president is hired, at which time that individual will then establish his or her own leadership structure.

# # #


The University of New Mexico is the state's largest university, serving more than 32,000 students. UNM is home to the state's only schools of law, medicine, pharmacy and architecture and operates New Mexico's only academic health center. UNM is noted for comprehensive undergraduate programs and research that benefits the state and the nation.

www.unm.edu