It's official: State hires new UO president

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Board of Higher Education voted Friday to formally hire Michael Gottfredson to lead the University of Oregon.

Gottfredson, a senior administrator in California, takes over the presidency at Oregon's highest-profile university during a time of flux in the state's education system. State funding has declined and Gov. John Kitzhaber is consolidating control over education in the governor's office. The UO is fighting for more independence from the statewide university system.

Gottfredson begins Aug. 1, but officials said he'll begin transitioning into the job next month.

In a statement, he said he's looking forward to "helping to move forward the mission and goals of this prestigious institution."

"UO has and will continue to play a leadership role in ensuring that Oregonians have access to one of the best universities in the country, and that graduates continue to make important contributions to the economy of Oregon," he said.

Gottfredson has been executive vice chancellor and provost at the University of California, Irvine since 2000 and spent 15 years at the University of Arizona before that.

He will be offered a three-year contract with an annual salary of $540,000, said Di Saunders, spokeswoman for the Oregon University System.

Gottfredson was the only finalist to replace Richard Lariviere, who was fired last year after the board said he wasn't a team player. Lariviere fought hard to get the UO more independence from the statewide university system, and he rankled the board and the governor by raising salaries when other universities couldn't afford to do so.

Boosting independence remains a top goal for many in Eugene, and the Legislature is considering the creation of independent governing boards for the schools that want them. Disagreements remain, however, over the powers those boards would be granted.

Besides his work in administration, Gottfredson has been a professor of criminology, law and society. He graduated from the University of California at Davis and got his advanced degrees from the State University of New York at Albany.

Interim UO President Robert Berdahl praised Gottfredson's selection.

"He is outstanding — highly respected, smart, thoughtful" Berdahl said in a statement. "He will be a great president for the UO."

The board also voted Friday to appoint Mark Weiss as president of Western Oregon University for two years. He has been the interim president since 2011, when John Minahan retired, and was previously the university's executive vice president for finance and administration.

Board members renewed the contract for Southern Oregon University President Mary Cullinan through June 30, 2014.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press