by Christopher Sanchez
Daily Lobo
Being president of UNM's Board of Regents isn't about pushing other regents around.
"You run meetings, make appointments, but we're all pretty much equal," said Jamie Koch, president of the Board of Regents.
Koch, appointed as a regent by Gov. Bill Richardson in January 2003 and elected as president of the regents the same year, was re-elected as president of the board March 13.
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According to the UNM Regents' Policy Manual, the board is required to meet in March of each year to elect a president, vice president and secretary.
There is no real process for being elected as an officer, Koch said. If a regent is interested in becoming an officer, the board votes unanimously on it, he said.
"It's not a campaign or anything; it never has been," he said.
Regents Jack Fortner and Sandra Begay-Campbell also retained their positions as vice president and secretary, respectively.
Begay-Campbell said Koch has done well as president, and she likes working with him.
"I've gotten to know how he works. He's gotten to know me better, and it has improved our relationship. I consider him a friend," she said.
She said as secretary of the regents, she reviews minutes of each meeting and presents them to the board.
According to the UNM Regents' Policy Manual, the regents are in charge of governing the University, which include assets and programs, establishing goals, policies, and oversight of the functioning of the University.
Regents are also responsible for selecting the University's president, athletics director and other leaders.
There are seven regents at UNM, including a student regent. The governor appoints a regent to a six-year term and can reappoint the regent once his or her term expires.
The student regent serves a two-year term.
Regents are volunteers and do not receive salary for their work, but are eligible for travel compensation.
When Koch is not leading the regents, he is president of Daniels Insurance Inc. He has been with the company for 37 years, he said.
He works 15 hours to 20 hours a week on regents business, and the rest of his time is devoted to the insurance company, he said. The majority of the regents agenda work is done by the chairpersons of standing committees, which include audit, finance and facilities, academic and student affairs, advancement, and Health Sciences, Koch said.
As president of the board, he is in charge of appointing members to the standing committees.
Koch said to be a part of the board is a lot of work and fun, but he plans on serving one term, which ends in 2009.
"I think six years is plenty of time," he said. "I like the regents. I like what I'm doing. But I'm in my mid-70s, and by the time I give my time, it's time for someone else."
Begay-Campbell said the thought of being president of the regents has crossed her mind once before, but it would draw away from her career. But, she said, she would like to be reappointed as a regent when her term is up in December.
Outside of being a regent, she works at Sandia National Laboratories as an engineer working with tribal energy programs.
Begay-Campbell, an American Indian, said it is important the regents keep the board diverse.
"It reflects the University," she said. "The majority of students (at UNM) are minority students, both Hispanics and Native Americans, and I think the board should reflect that."
