University of Nevada Finally Gets Chancellor

Regents of the University of Nevada, turned down by one of their two finalists for chancellor, rejected the second on Friday and unanimously approved Deputy Chancellor Mark Dawson for the job.

The regents, led by chairman Dan Klaich, expressed concern over the ability of finalist Bill Atchley, president of the National Science Center for Communications and Electronics Foundation Inc., in Virginia, to adapt to the requirements of Nevada’s chancellor.

“It is my opinion that Dr. Atchley is not that person,” Klaich said. “It would not be my inclination to offer the position of chancellor of the University of Nevada to him.”

After other board members agreed, Regent JoAnn Sheerin recommended Dawson for the post, commending his performance as deputy chancellor.

“We know Mark, we trust Mark, the system trusts Mark,” she said. “I believe that Mark Dawson is the person we’re looking for.”

Other regents expressed concern during more than an hour of discussion that the board had not sufficiently spelled out the chancellor’s duties.

“I think the definition we have arrived at for a chancellor is not one we all can support,” Regent Carolyn Sparks said.

Regent Dorothy Gallagher agreed, saying, “I don’t think this board knows what it is after. We have to decide what the board wants” in a chancellor, “or you are programming them for failure.”

Dawson was one of six semifinalists chosen for the post by a four-regent search committee that studied nearly 100 applications to succeed Chancellor Robert Bersi, who will leave the office in June to pursue a better-paying job.