WHO’s WHO
{ EDUCATION } MICHAEL CROW President Arizona State University president.asu.edu
Crow became the 16th president of ASU on July 1, 2002. He is guiding the transformation of ASU into one of the nation’s leading public metropolitan research universities, an institution that combines the highest levels of academic excellence, inclusiveness to a broad demographic, and maximum societal impact — a model he terms the “New American University.” Business advice: “As universities and as a society, we must find ways to make the most of our nation’s intellectual capital. Higher education plays a central role in driving innovation and increasing our nation’s economic competiveness. With a commitment to educating larger and increasingly diverse segments of our population at the highest levels, we strengthen our ability to succeed in an increasingly global knowledge economy.”
RITA CHENG
President Northern Arizona University nau.edu Cheng is the president of NAU, a high research university with a $500 million operating budget, 4,600 faculty and staff and 29,000 students. Cheng firmly believes in making higher education accessible and affordable for all students. Business advice: “Stay focused on the core mission and always keep student success in mind – creating knowledge and translating it in a way that allows students to achieve their greatest potential.” Professional accomplishment: “Commencement is my favorite part of the job. It’s a day of celebration and always reminds me of why we do what we do in higher education. I get a great deal of pride out of watching students walk across the stage to receive their degree. It’s very rewarding and fulfilling.”
EILEEN KLEIN
President Arizona Board of Regents azregents.edu Klein has more than 20 years of strategic fiscal, executive management and policy reform experience. She oversees the $4 billion Arizona public university system works with university presidents to achieve ambitious goals to increase degree production, double research activity and reform instructional delivery and financing of the university system. Toughest challenge: “Helping to resolve Arizona’s record budget deficit and financial turmoil following the economic downturn. A solid plan, strong leadership and a lot of tenacity went a long way in turning things around. ” Childhood dreams: “I love animals and originally planned to become a zoologist or veterinarian — and thanks to the late House Speaker Jake Flake, I know how to give a cow a pregnancy test.”
BRIAN MUELLER
President and CEO Grand Canyon University gcu.edu
Mueller joined Grand Canyon in July 2008 and ushered in a new era for the university — from an entrepreneurial venture to a market-supported private university. Taking the successes he experienced as a teacher and coach at the high school and college level as well as 22 years of experience at the Apollo Group, Mueller has transformed GCU from a financially troubled university into a $2 billion institution that has become a driving force in higher education today. Business advice: “You have to have a real passion and deep background in education, understand where the industry is going, and be able to look very differently at how to finance what you are doing. You have to be willing to take significant risks. And you have to build a highly loyal, committed team.”
ANN WEAVER HART
President The University of Arizona president.arizona.edu Weaver Hart is the 21st president of UA. Since coming to UA in July 2012, Hart has led a process to create and implement an integrated strategic academic and business plan – Never Settle – that honors the UA’s role as Arizona’s land-grant university and that will guide its future as a super land-grant with two medical schools, big-time research and transformative student engagement that impact Arizona. Business advice: “A modern research university is a complex organization with a multifaceted mission. Integrating its many activities to achieve success requires expertise and hard work beyond what one person can accomplish. Building relationships with students, faculty, donors, alumni and business and community partners – including elected officials – is critical to success.”