Courtesy
Dr. Keith Whitfield, July 21, 2020. The Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) Board of Regents voted unanimously for Keith Whitfield to serve as the University of Las Vegas’ president. (Photo by UNLV Photo Services)
Published Thursday, July 23, 2020 | 2:20 p.m.
Updated Thursday, July 23, 2020 | 3:04 p.m.
The state Board of Regents voted unanimously today to name Keith Whitfield, an administrator at Wayne State University in Detroit, as the next president of UNLV.
The board, which followed the recommendation of a presidential search committee, also approved a four-year contract with a base salary of $500,000 that starts Aug. 24.
“This is a university I’ve had great respect for. I shared this possibility — it’s a reality now — with my mother last night, and I don’t think I’ve ever heard scream and she actually screamed in excitement, because I think we all know of this university and its history and its legacy,” Whitfield said.
Whitfield, a psychology professor, is provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Wayne State. He will become the first Black president at UNLV.
Whitfield is taking the job at UNLV in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, which has posed challenges for universities to maintain student safety while continuing to provide an education. At the end of last school year, UNLV transitioned to online distance learning.
Whitfield said he favors having a reduced number of people on campus while the virus remains active and encourages everyone to wear masks.
UNLV plans to conduct about half of its classes online in the fall, and class sizes will be reduced to 50% of classroom capacity, officials said. Reopening plans, however, are fluid, UNLV spokesman Tony Allen said.
“COVID is not something that’s stopping us. It’s an opportunity for those who have the wisdom to be able to see it or capitalize on it. We’re going to do that with this university,” Whitfield said.
Whitfield was the search committee’s top choice for the job.
“Dr. Whitfield stood out head and shoulders above the rest, not only for his academic accomplishments but accomplishments with student success,” said Trevor Hayes, a regent and chairman of the committee.
Whitfield will replace Marta Meana, who has been acting president since July 1,2018. She did not seek the permanent job.
Regent Carol Del Carlo said Meana will be accessible during the transition and is leaving UNLV “so much better than she found it.”
UNLV Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Chris Heavey, another top contender for the president’s job, submitted a written statement to the board congratulating Whitfield.
“I know the faculty, staff, students, alumni and community will embrace Dr. Whitfield...I look forward to assisting him in advancing this university we all love,” Heavey said.
Whitfield, who also serves as a research scientist at Duke University, has a long list of honors and awards, funded research and published journal articles. Last year, he won the Outreach Partner of the Year Award from the Engineering Society of Detroit.
