by Katy Knapp
Daily Lobo
Billy Sparks said he plans on completing the two classes he needs to get a bachelor's degree.
"I do think a degree is very important," he said. "But I also recognize that I have 30 years of experience."
Sparks, 53, gets a $120,000 salary as executive director for communications at the Health Sciences Center. He was receiving $93,000 a year as deputy chief of staff for Gov. Bill Richardson's office before he resigned Feb. 1.
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The written job description for the position requires a bachelor's degree.
Paul Roth, executive vice president of the Health Sciences Center, said the University's unofficial rule that higher education employees in marketing positions need to have college degrees is a good one.
"But like with all rules, there are exceptions," he said.
Sparks' experience includes working in Santa Fe for seven years, working on former president Bill Clinton's re-election campaign in New Mexico in 1996, and working as a director of research for New York City Mayor David Dirkins' campaign.
The Health Sciences Center job was not advertised.
In response to accusations that the governor and the UNM Board of Regents pressured him to hire Sparks, Roth stressed the rumors are not true.
"That is harming the University in devious ways," he said. "There was never any communication with the governor's office."
Roth met with Sparks several weeks ago and asked around about his qualifications, he said.
"In my view, I wanted to bring somebody in with extensive experience in an area we already decided to build on. It was a great opportunity, and I didn't want to miss it," Roth said.
Sparks said he took the job at UNM over other marketing and public relations positions in the state to continue his work in public service.
"The extent of roles they play in academics and services is far greater than people realize," Sparks said, citing last year there were 1.7 million patient visits to UNM Hospital, out of a total state population of 1.8 million.
He said research centers, like the Cancer Research Center among others, need more attention.
"The level of research hasn't been talked about," Sparks said. "It's a great institution, and there's a lot there to educate people."
Roth said creating the position has been in the works for two years, and it is part of a larger strategic plan.
One component of that plan involves creating better media and community relations, Roth said.
He said there were communication problems with local health care advocacy groups and the public.
Work done by faculty, staff and students of the Health Sciences Center and its programs are the best-kept secrets in New Mexico, Roth said.
"We don't do a good job of telling our story and maintaining excellent media relations," he said.
Sam Giammo, director of public affairs for the Health Sciences Center, said his department was doing a good job of getting news to the media.
"We just got to roll with the punches," he said. "Frankly, we've never had a problem getting information out. But when decisions are made, you have to go with them."
Hiring Sparks comes at a time when the University is lobbying the state for money to cover uncompensated care at UNM Hospital - or money that will pay for the uninsured.
Roth said doubts on spending money on a new position when the funds could be used for uncompensated care or staffing, is legitimate.
He said the money for the position comes from reorganization within the vice president's office, not from other programs. For instance, Roth said, when he took his executive position last spring, he remained dean of the School of Medicine.
That saved hundreds of thousands of dollars, he said, which not only goes toward Sparks' salary, but also the expansion of programs at the Health Sciences Center.
"It's my view that every dollar we save can go to supporting student services and clinical programs," Roth said.
