Daily Lobo: What do you think is the most important issue facing higher education?
David Schmidly: I actually think there are four, and they're all interrelated, and you have to balance them. They are access, affordability, excellence and student success. Those are the four issues driving higher education in America today. Access because we're finding different levels of access across different socioeconomic groups, and yet, access is so crucial in uplifting society, and so, that's important. But you won't have access without affordability. And access is a hollow victory if you don't have student success. So, balancing those four factors, I think, is the key to any university today.
DL: How are you qualified to run an institution of UNM's size and diversity?
DS: I've run comparable-sized institutions. I have not run a university that's this diverse. Oklahoma State, I think we have about 32,000 students who report up through my command. While we're not as diverse, I made diversity one of the most important strategic goals at Oklahoma State, and we have made some major successes in that regard, and I'm confident that I can lead the way here, as well.
DL: What, if anything, would you do to prevent tuition increases?
DS: The most important thing is to get the Legislature to appropriate sufficient money so that you don't have to have tuition increases. Second, I think it's extremely important that you make sure that you use every dollar wisely and that you look at processes and cost savings so that the money you do have from the sources you currently have - the maximum amount of that money put into education so you don't have to increase tuition. The third thing, I think, that's important is fundraising. So, private fundraising is becoming
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increasingly more important to holding tuition costs down.
DL: What experience do you have that prepared you for the unique aspects of New Mexico?
DS: Well, I have a home here. I've lived here for three years, and I've had a home here. I've spent a lot of time in New Mexico, actually. I'm a field biologist, so I've been out and about the state, and I know it real well. I've had a lot of experience with Native-American people during my time in Oklahoma. I feel personally comfortable with that. The same is true for Hispanics during my time in west Texas, and I feel, and my son is married to a woman from Mexico. So, I just feel like it's a place where I'm comfortable with the culture, comfortable with the environment and comfortable with the people.
DL: Do you think longevity of a university president is important, and if so, how can UNM be sure that you'll stay for a
reasonable amount of time?
DS: Yes, I do. And I think presidencies need to be in five-year blocks, and then, you evaluate whether they need to continue or not. I'm 63 years of age, and I've decided I'm going to work at least until I'm 68 or 70. So, if I come here, it would be with a five- to seven-year time frame in mind. After about seven years, you've probably worn out those people.
DL: If you're chosen, what will you do to keep faculty and staff happy to be working at UNM?
DS: Well, first of all, I'm going to start listening to them, and I'm going to try to address the issues that faculty, staff and students say are their biggest concerns. I think some of them are always pretty obvious - compensation. But I think there are other issues that I'm hearing about, too. Issues of equity, inclusion, diversity, fairness, and I think I've got to address those issues, as well.
DL: How are you prepared to balance the interests of various parties at UNM, including faculty, staff, students and the surrounding community?
DS: Well, that's the major job of a university president. I mean, it's how you achieve that balance. You've got to be a good listener. You need to have a good plan. That plan needs to be focused on the highest priorities of the institution that improve the work of the faculty and staff and improve the education of the students. And so, I've had 15 years experience doing this, and I have to rely on that experience. But every institution is unique. They have their own culture, and I've got to, I'll have to come here and study the University of New Mexico. I'll have to learn a lot more about it in order to make sure that what I propose we do here is comfortable with the culture of this University.
David Schmidly
CEO and president of the Oklahoma State University System since 2002.
Oversaw plans for an $826 million construction program.
Launched a testing center to develop sensors to detect chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive threats.
Created a parents' association to integrate families into higher education.
Served as president, vice president for research and dean of the graduate school at Texas Tech University.
Has published eight books on natural history and conservation.
Bachelor's and master's degrees in zoology from Texas Tech.
Doctorate in zoology from the University of Illinois.
~Caleb Fort
