Napolitano will inherit agitation as new President of the University of California

By Sharon Bernstein

LOS Angeles, July 13 (Reuters) - in the hiring of Janet Napolitano to run the University of extension California, State officials have exploits of connoisseurs and fundraising of the head of national security policies for restoring a system built up by years of budget cuts and agitation.

Napolitano, a Governor of two-term Arizona plucked by President Barack Obama in 2009 to be Homeland Security Secretary, said on Friday that he would leave that post to run the system 10-University campus, pending approval by the Board of Regents expected next week.

Chosen from more than 300 candidates in part because of their political ability, 55-year-old Democrat will take the rudder as the University is struggling to recover from the economic crises that have eaten away at the State budget and for almost two decades.

Cuts of almost $1 billion in the past five years have led to increases in tuition and shortage of class and has strained relations with the Faculty and staff through the imposition of days of rest and hiring freezes.

"Your job is to restore the glory of the system," said Jack Stripling, who covers the leadership of the University for the Chronicle of higher education.

So Napolitano will have to convince politicians that control the State budget that a University of high quality is an asset worth paying for - at the time showing the faculty, staff and students 234.000 that she is on their side.

"The thinking is, you bring in someone with statesmanship to resolve what is essentially a political problem," said Stripling.

To make your choice of a new President, the University leaders chosen someone with experience in the management of a large, highly political organization, said the UC Dianne Klein spokeswoman. The budget of the University, including its hospitals and medical centers, is more than $24 billion.

"It is a dynamic position, and she is someone who has experience in the management of large complex organizations," said Klein.

BUDGET

Neapolitan tenure will begin as the campus - along with the State - recovered from the prolonged economic recession. But while the legislature and gov. Jerry Brown have restored some funds, budgets remain tight.

As a result, Napolitano will have to find creative ways to raise funds and cut spending, while preserving the quality of the teaching and research so that the system is known.

"Secretary Napolitano has the strength of character and the mind of a stranger who will serve well the Faculty and students," said Brown in a statement. "It will be exciting to work with her."

But Robert Powell, Professor of chemical engineering at UC Davis Academic Senate who heads system-wide, said Napolitano also will have to spend time knowing College by meeting with students and professors and campus tour.

"She has to go to the campus - meet with faculty, meet with staff, search and see how these places are and how students live here," said Powell.

A lawyer by training, Napolitano is an unusual choice because he has not worked in academia. His predecessor, Mark Yudof, is also a lawyer but was Rector of the University of Texas and President of the University of Minnesota before taking the reins in the most populous United States State.

Napolitano was born in New York City and grew up in Pittsburgh and Albuquerque. He had been appointed a Prosecutor of Arizona of the United States Bill Clinton and later elected attorney general of the State and the Governor.

As head of Homeland Security, she drew the ire of some Republicans, who painted an overly optimistic image of border security, he said.

Napolitano will be the 20th President of the University of California and the first woman. He acknowledged that it was not a typical candidate and said that he would meet with teachers, students, politicians and others to learn about the system.

"If preparing to govern a State or direct an organism so critical and complex as national security, I have found the best way to start is simply to listen,", said Napolitano. (Additional reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Edited by Cynthia Johnston and Sandra Maler)

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