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Faculty, students pose questions to URI presidential candidate at open discussion
Chris Curtis
Issue date: 4/24/09 Section: News
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Current URI President Robert L. Carothers is stepping down in June, after 18 years at the university.
Robert Newman told students and faculty gathered for an open forum in the Memorial Union that he was honored and grateful to have been chosen to continue in the selection process.
Newman is dean of the College of Humanities, associate vice president for interdisciplinary studies and professor of English at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah.
"My interest in university administration grew from the desire to help make administration a more productive instrument of change rather than a protector of antiquated institutional boundaries and bureaucracies," Newman told the audience of about 75 people.
These boundaries have inhibited improvements in teaching and research, he said.
The product of a Philadelphia working class family and a first generation college student, Newman said his parents instilled in him "a love of education as a pathway to a better and more fulfilling life."
As an educator and administrator, Newman said he enjoys the challenges of making a difference in the lives of students, faculty and the community and of raising money.
Newman said he believes that instilling intellectual curiosity and creativity is the root mission of higher education, and that both of these are qualities he brings to the table.
"The president's role to my mind is the role in which an individual can make the biggest impact in enhancing that mission," he said.
Newman also spoke of social obligations as a central university mission.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Kathy Wyer
posted 4/27/09 @ 12:55 AM EST
Newman's claim that a "thorough investigation" supported his removal of Lenowitz and a colleague from the Middle East Center is laughable. Newman did not go through normal University procedures to prove that the action he took was justified; he said he had the authority to take action without providing a reason. (Continued…)
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