Janet Napolitano, the U.S. secretary of homeland security, was nominated on Friday as the next president of the University of California. The UC Regents will vote on Napolitano’s nomination tomorrow.
The choice is largely seen as an unorthodox one, given Napolitano’s lack of higher education experience. But supporters say she makes up more than enough for it with plenty of experience leading a large and complex governmental organization. What’s more, Napolitano comes with a proven track record of raising money, an especially important asset with the drastic cuts the UC system has faced in the past decade.
Napolitano will succeed Mark Yudof, who announced in January that he’s stepping down.
Guests:
Bob Powell, Professor of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and Food Science and Technology at the University of California, Davis, and the University of California Academic Senate Chair
Abraham Wagner, Visiting Professor of Law at UCLA and Professor of International & Public Affairs at Columbia University