UCLA unlikely to name Chodorow to chancellorship

The school will likely select Harvard's Albert Carnesale. University of California President Richard Atkinson is expected to recommend the appointment of Harvard Provost Albert Carnesale as UCLA Chancellor today -- a choice that the Regents will likely approve. Atkinson will offer his recommendation to the school's Regents for confirmation in a teleconference at 12 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. At 1 p.m., the Regents will hold a public meeting at which they will reaffirm their votes and reveal the new Chancellor's compensation package. The public meeting is required by California state law, according to UCLA spokesperson Terry Colvin. Carnesale, 60, is a former dean of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and Lucius Littauer Professor of Public Policy and Administration. He serves as a consultant for the federal government and civilian organizations in the areas of defense, intelligence, international affairs, nuclear arms and energy. Sources inside the UCLA search committee said Penn Provost Stanley Chodorow interviewed for the UCLA Chancellor position last week. Although Chodorow admitted he was in Berkeley last Tuesday, he would not comment as to what he was doing there. However, yesterday, faculty at UCLA were still under the impression Chodorow was a top contender. UCLA professor Frank Jones said he heard from a source close to the Regents in Sacramento that Chodorow had already been offered and accepted the position. "Everyone I've talked to that knows this man says he's almost Jesus," Jones added. "I mean he's kind, he really cares about undergraduates? what kind of better qualities could you want in a chancellor?" Jones said many faculty members felt Chodorow was a shoo-in because of his close relationship with Atkinson, who served as Chancellor of UC San Diego while Chodorow was Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Planning at the school. Penn students were also surprised by the reports that Carnesale had been selected over Chodorow. Undergraduate Assembly Vice Chairperson Larry Kamin said Chodorow's qualifications should have placed him far above other candidates. "From the standpoint of the students, the silver lining is obvious," the College junior said. "[Chodorow] is likely to be here for a longer period of time than if he were to have gotten that job." College junior Ari Silverman, chairperson of the Student Committee on Undergraduate Education, said although he is shocked, "UCLA's loss is Penn's gain." "I am very happy -- ecstatic -- that the provost will be remaining with us," Silverman said. "He has really developed his willingness to work with students, and I think to lose him at this time would really be to our detriment." The Daily Bruin at UCLA reported last week that members of the search committee charged with evaluating the candidates for the chancellor position said Chodorow and Carnesale had far surpassed the other two candidates -- UCLA Law School Dean Susan Prager and UCLA Medical School Dean Gerald Levey. Some members of the committee even placed Chodorow higher than Carnesale, claiming there was some doubt whether Carnesale could manage UCLA's large campus. Chodorow said he did not apply for the UCLA position, explaining, "When you get to my age and position, you do not apply." But he refused to comment further on the search and selection procedure. "I will not comment on my or anyone else's job searches," he said. Atkinson is also expected to recommend University of Texas at Austin President Robert Berdahl for the Chancellorship of UC Berkeley.

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