Staben the unanimous choice at UI

MOSCOW - The Idaho State Board of Education unanimously selected Chuck Staben as the 18th president of the University of Idaho during a short teleconference Monday morning.

Staben, 55, now serves as provost and vice president for academic affairs at the University of South Dakota. He will replace Duane Nellis, who left UI earlier this year to become president of Texas Tech University.

Staben was in Moscow for Monday's announcement. He said the appointment is "a real dream come true."

"Higher education is something I'm deeply passionate about," he said. "During the Middle Ages it was reserved for the elite, but in the United States it plays a critical role in our participatory democracy ... This is an incredible opportunity, and I'm sure it will be an incredible challenge."

Staben was one of 70 total applicants and five finalists for the president's job. The state board approved a standard three-year contract for him, effective March 1, at an annual salary of $350,000.

Originally from Waukegan, Ill., Staben received his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana in 1978 and a doctorate in biochemistry from the University of California-Berkeley in 1984.

After conducting post-doctoral research at Stanford University and Chiron Research Laboratories, he worked at the University of Kentucky for almost 20 years, first as a biology professor and biology department chairman and later as associate vice president for research.

His own research focused on fungal developmental biology, fungal genomics and bioinformatics.

Staben has been provost at the University of South Dakota since August 2008. During his tenure, Idaho Board of Education President Don Soltman noted that the university "increased enrollment, (student) retention and graduation."

Staben also helped guide the university through state funding declines, similar to what happened in Idaho during the recession. Soltman said Staben's background in research and higher education should enable UI to grow and expand on its long tradition of excellence.

State board member Bill Goesling of Moscow said Staben's interest in expanding university research and his commitment to the land-grant mission impressed him.

"That's something I feel strongly about," he said. "I was also impressed when he met with the university staff. He said they were the oil that makes the machine work."

In preparation for his new job, Staben said he'll spend the next few months listening to what faculty and staff have to say about UI's strengths and weaknesses. Once he arrives in March, increasing enrollment and graduation rates will likely be high on his priority list, as well as increasing research opportunities.

The audience in the Administration Building auditorium gave Staben a strong round of applause when he indicated he hoped to remain at UI for possibly 10 to 15 years.

"What I'm looking for is one last good job," he said. "My wife hates to move. She's enthusiastic about this move, but she may not have any more in her."

Staben's wife, Mary Beth, is a doctor of internal medicine. They have three college-age children.

The audience also gave interim President Don Burnett a standing ovation for his efforts and leadership since Nellis left for Texas. He'll take the lead role in presenting UI's budget request to the Idaho Legislature in January, prior to Staben coming on board.

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Spence may be contacted at bspence@lmtribune.com or (208) 791-9168.