University of California Press Entrepreneurial President: Richard Atkinson and the University of California, 1995–2003

Richard C. Atkinson was named president of the University of California in August 1995, barely four weeks after the UC Regents voted to end affirmative action. How he dealt with the admissions wars - the political, legal, and academic consequences of that historic and controversial decision, as well as the issue of governance - is discussed in this book. Another focus is the entrepreneurial university - the expansion of the University's research enterprise into new forms of scientific research with industry during Atkinson's presidency. The final crisis of his administration was the prolonged controversy over the University's management of the Los Alamos and Livermore nuclear weapons research laboratories that began with the arrest of Los Alamos scientist Wen Ho Lee on charges of espionage in 1999. "Entrepreneurial President" explains what was at stake during each of these episodes, how Atkinson addressed the issues, and why the outcomes matter to the University and to the people of California. Pelfrey's book provides an analysis of the challenges, perils, and limits of presidential leadership in the nation's leading public university, while bringing a historical perspective to bear on the current serious threats to its future as a university. Review "A most interesting book. . . . It is hard to imagine anyone more qualified than Pat Pelfrey to write this book."--Vanderhoef, Larry N. "De Gruyter" (10/20/2012 12:00:00 AM) "Enlightening. . . . This book provides a wealth of important observations about the most salient aspects of the Atkinson presidency."--Cristina Gonzalez, University of California, Davis "Rev Higher Ed" (4/15/2013 12:00:00 AM) "Pelfrey writes from an unparalleled inside position. . . . Full of insight."--Karen Merritt "Journal Of The Society For College And University Planning" (2/15/2013 12:00:00 AM) "Very readable, thoughtful, and richly informative."--Professor Emeritus Sanford Lakoff "Chronicles: Newsletter Of The Ucsd Emeriti Association" (8/26/2012 12:00:00 AM) Her riveting chapter on the history of intelligence testing, disputes over the reliability of aptitude versus achievement testing and America's obsession with standardized tests should be mandatory reading for anyone interested in the history of the interplay between merit and democracy.--Sheldon Rothblatt "History of Universities 27, no. 1" (11/5/2013 12:00:00 AM) From the Inside Flap "This engaging book is blessed with a special chemistry. It is, first, a revealing story of one of the most intelligent, adaptive, and creative leaders in the history of the University of California. It is, second, a superb account of the knottiest problemsaffirmative action, relations with the national laboratories, for examplefaced by the University during the Atkinson presidency. It is, third, remarkably enriched by Patricia Pelfrey's talents, long experience, keen judgment, and objectivity as the storyteller."--Neil J. Smelser, Professor of Sociology, Emeritus, University of California, Berkeley and author of Reflections on the University of California This book has a wide range of appeal, from University of California loyalists to scholars of public higher education, its governance, administration and politics.--Karl S. Pister, Chancellor Emeritus, UC Santa Cruz and Dean and Roy W. Carlson Professor of Engineering Emeritus, UC Berkeley From the Back Cover This engaging book is blessed with a special chemistry. It is, first, a revealing story of one of the most intelligent, adaptive, and creative leaders in the history of the University of California. It is, second, a superb account of the knottiest problems--affirmative action, relations with the national laboratories, for example--faced by the University during the Atkinson presidency. It is, third, remarkably enriched by Patricia Pelfrey's talents, long experience, keen judgment, and objectivity as the storyteller.--Neil J. Smelser, Professor of Sociolo