Michael Gottfredson, provost at the University of California, Irvine, is the only finalist for the next University president, according to an email sent Monday morning from the chancellor of the Oregon University System, George Pernsteiner.@@http://www.ous.edu/news_and_information/bios/pernsteiner.php@@
Gottfredson is also executive vice chancellor at UC Irvine and a professor of criminology, law and society as well as sociology.@@http://socialecology.uci.edu/faculty/gottfred@@ He will hold several campus events this week, starting with a campus forum Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. in Lillis Business Complex.
“I think his track record speaks for itself and it really shows the remarkable strides he’s made over the years in academics and administration,” Pernsteiner said of Gottfredson. “It speaks to the effectiveness of his leadership during a rapid decline of state support in California.”
The Oregon State Board of Higher Education will vote during a telephoned meeting on Gottfredson’s appointment Friday at 9 a.m. at the Ford Lecture Hall in the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. He must earn a majority vote from the board to become president.
Gottfredson earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of California, Davis and his Ph.D. at the State University of New York at Albany.@@see link above@@ His specialties include criminology and the criminal justice system. He has written several books about crime theories and has advised state, county and federal government officials about criminal justice policy.
A 22-member presidential search committee was formed soon after the board fired then-University President Richard Lariviere in November. Since February,  the committee — made up of administrators, faculty, students and staff — has been looking through applications for presidential candidates.
If appointed president, Gottfredson would replace interim University President Robert Berdahl on August 1.
Allyn Ford, a member of the board and chair of the search committee, said the committee had chosen 16 candidates by mid-May. The committee then narrowed the group down to nine candidates. Ford said four days of nonstop interviews and discussions with the candidates followed.
“Dr. Gottfredson I think stood out from the rest of the pact,” Ford said. “We had someone who’s had strong leadership experience and is used to dealing with the Pac-12.”
Gottfredson will focus on an institutional board for the University if the board approves his appointment, which Ford said is likely.
“Unless something really unusual happens, I think the Board is prepared to vote for the selection of Dr. Gottfredson as the president,” he said.
During his time as provost, professor and vice chancellor at UC Irvine since 2000, Gottfredson improved theuniversity’s reputation @@how and into what?@@ and built research centers on campus, according to a statement released by UC Irvine Chancellor Michael Drake. He was also responsible for a $1.8 billion annual operating budget, 1,500 faculty members and 27,000 students.
In the statement, Gottfredson also commented about his interest in Oregon.
“The decision to pursue the University of Oregon presidency was difficult, but it is an opportunity that I cannot overlook,” he said. “As much as I love California and Irvine, a role as university president is an exciting professional opportunity. I appreciate the support from Chancellor Drake and my colleagues during this process.”
More information to come.
Sam Stites also contributed reporting.