Candidate takes stage in round 2 of candidate forums

Tom Campbell will take the spotlight today to answer questions from students, faculty and community members in campus forums held throughout the day.

Campbell, dean of the Haas School of Business at the University of California-Berkeley, will be meeting with various members of the community to gain a better understanding of the UA campus, starting with a student forum at 2:15 p.m. today in the North Ballroom in the Student Union Memorial Center.

Beside a background in academia, Campbell also served five nonconsecutive terms in the U.S. House of Representatives as a socially liberal republican who was pro-choice on abortion and strongly supportive of gun control and gay rights, according to his biography.

Campbell took a leave of absence from the Haas School to serve as director of the California Department of Finance from Nov. 2004 to 2005.

Political expertise combined with an academic background makes Campbell more qualified to assume a presidential role at UA, said HD Palmer, deputy director for state department affiliates.

"He has an absolute passion for higher education," Palmer said.

Palmer said Campbell can bring a lot to UA because of his academic and political background, and should the committee choose Campbell, he will have the necessary experience to have interaction with Gov. Janet Napolitano.

"(He's) very much a gentleman and a professional, and very much enjoys interaction with students and helping them to grow personally and professionally," Palmer said.

Richard Lyons, executive assistant dean for the Haas School, said Campbell's impressive resume and network of connections would help him should he assume the UA's top position.

"He's a hugely high-profile person, both at the national level and the state of California." Lyons said, "It is valuable to have someone that is that high profile."

Lyons said although Campbell has a certain level of celebrity status, he doesn't let it affect his interaction with students.

As dean of the Haas School, Campbell held open-town meetings with students where he would encourage them to bring up whatever was on their minds, Lyons said.

Lyons said he doesn't believe Campbell would have a hard time balancing financial issues for the university or maintaining Hdiversity.

In 1998, Campbell voted yes on the Higher Education Amendments Act of 1997, ending preferential treatment by race in college admissions, according to his voting record.

"He really does have student welfare in mind in a very significant and genuine way," Lyons said.

In meetings, Campbell was known to bring up the student's perspective on issues and would frequently remind administration when student welfare was not on their minds, Lyons said.

"That's not something that comes out of every dean or every student's mouth," he said.

Lyons said he believes Campbell is qualified to assume the UA presidency, though being the president of a university is tough.

"The span of control and responsibility is immense, but it's a very different job description than being the dean of a school," Lyons said.

Campbell was a professor of law at Stanford University from 1987 to 2002. He received his doctorate in economics at the University of Chicago in 1980. Campbell is married and has no children.

For additional information or updates on the candidate forums, please visit http://search.web.arizona.edu.