Posted on 09/04/2015 5:28:23 AM PDT by iowamark
The University of Iowa's governing board on Thursday named a corporate management expert with little higher education experience as the school's next president, an unusual choice meant to shake up the culture of the state's flagship academic institution.
The selection of J. Bruce Harreld, a former senior vice president at IBM and lecturer at Harvard Business School, immediately outraged professors who had overwhelmingly rated him as unqualified. Nationally, the pick could spark debate over whether business experience alone is enough to lead a major public research university...
Harreld said he was honored, calling his selection "a watershed moment for a great institution." He said he has a lot to learn and was ready to work with those critical of his credentials.
"I'm the first to admit that my unusual background requires a lot of help and a lot of coaching," Harreld said.
He said he had a history of managing institutions through "major strategic headwinds" such as those facing higher education.
"While I am a little different, I think I have a lot of the skills that will be necessary for success at this institution," he said.
But the pick didn't sit well with some of the 1,400-member faculty, who accused regents of orchestrating a rushed search to minimize scrutiny of Harreld.
"People are shocked and stunned," said psychology professor Bob McMurray. "It's clear that this person has very little support on campus or in the community. He's going to have a really hard time..."
During a forum Tuesday, Harreld told a skeptical, at times hostile crowd that his experience transforming businesses such as IBM would help the university improve its academic rankings, navigate intense competition for students and top academic talent, and make do with a shrinking level of taxpayer funding...
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
Maybe the Hawkeyes will win some games this year.
“”J. Bruce Harreld:
Education: Bachelors of engineering from Purdue University in 1972, and an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1975.
Recent administrative experience: While Harreld does not have experience as a university administrator, he’s held leadership roles at Fortune 500 and other companies, including senior vice president and division president for Kraft General Foods and senior vice president of IBM.
Academic experience: Herreld taught for a year as adjunct professor for Northwestern University’s MBA program, from 1993-94, and six years at Harvard Business School, focusing on entrepreneurial and strategy, from 2008-14. He was the faculty chair of the Building New Businesses in Established Organizations” program, and has published multiple articles and book chapters.
Family: Wife, Mary Gillilan Harreld, four children and six grandchildren””
This guy may be just the ticket.
The fact that nearby, Mitch Daniels is doing a lot of good stuff at Purdue probably has a lot to do with this selection..
Not discussed is whether this guy will be hands-off the kook faculty and will concentrate on reviving the disastrously declining sports programs.
I wonder if Kirk has passed his prime...
It’s pretty obvious he has.
Months ago, I-Club insiders told me that leftist kook Sally Mason was being encouraged out the door because she was hands-off athletics, and a new president would be brought in who will replace the athletic director as well as the football and basketball coaches.
Meanwhile, it will be business as usual for the kook faculty.
I remember those kooks...
First day on the job he needs to get rid of all card carrying communists, which will cause 90% of the faculty to disappear. Then he needs to hire professionals as adjuncts to replace the socialists/communists.
Isn't it odd that the institutions which most push change are so resistant to it themselves?
I'll be horribly disappointed in this guy if he brings those horrible new pronouns with him or allows them to stand if there are already present in Ames.
Best of luck to him. It is going to be a challenge given the hostility which the neo-Marxist faculty are already exhibiting. I'll be pulling for him.
Having a child who recently graduated from there, one thing stands out; the pathetic commencement speech by that pos Mason. It was all I could do not to get up and walk out.
Additionally, scholarship money my child was granted from the university the first 2 years, was ‘discontinued’ the remaining two as the funds were allocated to the sports departments. Not sure where and/or how they are suffering?
Ames? Nope. Iowa City.
I’m surprised all students didn’t get full scholarships. University of Iowa is a rich school. They hold the patents on most of the test scoring equipment and answer sheets earn a royalty for the school. Plus they do test scoring for schools and own the Iowa tests of basic skills. A psychologist by the name of Lindquist developed it. The school has made millions. I hear they had so much money when they first built the Lindquist Center they had original art work hanging in the hallways.
My bad. I know better than that.
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