Saying that he had made the drive to campus “probably a thousand times” during a lifetime of living in northern Nevada, but that on the way to work on Monday, Oct. 5, “this was probably the most special drive I’ve ever made,” Brian Sandoval officially took office as the 17th president of the University of Nevada, Reno.
Sandoval, a 1986 graduate of the University and a former two-term Nevada Governor, was appointed by the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents to succeed Marc Johnson on Sept. 17.
He becomes the first graduate of the University and the first person of Hispanic origin to ever become president of Nevada’s oldest institution of higher education.
After a little less than three weeks of phone calls with campus leaders and key University constituencies, Zoom meetings and an all-hours study of a vast array of University planning and financial documents since the Regents’ unanimous vote, Sandoval said he was “excited” and “over the moon” about becoming president, knowing full well that the University faces significant challenges while operating in the midst of an historic pandemic.
“I think great things are ahead of us,” Sandoval said, noting that he feels it is a “partnership” that he is entering into with the students, faculty and staff of the University. “I think we’re going to be a fabulous academic university, a place where students feel safe and protected and can be whatever they want to be. I think this is a place where anything is possible.”
Good morning, everybody. My name is Brian Sandoval, the newly minted president of the greatest university in the country, the University of Nevada, Reno.
My message for the students, faculty and staff is it's a great honor to work here, to be a partner with you, to advance the mission of this University, to be with you, the students, on a daily basis.
I've driven to this campus probably a thousand times, and this was probably the most special drive that I've ever made. And so I think great things are ahead of us. I think we're going to be a fabulous academic University, a place where students feel safe and protected and can be whatever they want to be.
I think this is a place where anything is possible to be able to serve as the President of the University of Nevada, a place that has been home for me for so many years. I graduated right behind me and I'm talking right now on the Quad, such a beautiful, beautiful place.
So this is a day that I'll always remember that I'll always treasure an opportunity for me to lead a great University and work with our students, faculty and staff to make it the greatest University in the United States of America.
