In a shake-up at the top of Arizona's higher education governance, Fred DuVal has resigned as the chair of the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) but will remain on the board to turn his attention to the University of Arizona's ongoing financial woes. Cecilia Mata, who was the chair-elect of ABOR, will be assuming the role of chair, according to ABC15.
DuVal's decision comes amidst a backdrop of fiscal turmoil at the University of Arizona, where efforts to stabilize finances have taken on new urgency. He stated, "It's imperative that we move away from the heat of rhetoric and politics and refocus on addressing the genuine challenges facing our institution. By resigning as board chair, I want to do my part to create space for collaborative efforts toward real solutions. I have full confidence in Chair Elect Mata’s capabilities to lead effectively in this role. Personally, this transition allows me to dedicate more time to serving the University of Arizona during my remaining two years on the board," in a statement obtained by ABC15. Meanwhile, ABOR executive director John Arnold is stepping aside to concentrate as the interim chief financial officer for UA, with Chad Sampson stepping in as the interim executive director.
This strategic move has been described as a bid to enable the board to better handle the university's financial crisis by refocusing efforts without the distraction of political posturing. DuVal emphasized the need for unity and collaborative problem-solving, planning to continue contributing constructively to the board during his remaining tenure, which lasts until January 2026. "We must solve this together and in my remaining two years on the board I plan to do so constructively and with an open mind,” DuVal asserted, according to information provided by State Press.
The developments have caught the attention of Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, who is scheduled to meet with ABOR and UA officials to address the turmoil. The matter has also resonated with the university community, as both University of Arizona and Arizona State University students have held protests and spoken at ABOR meetings on the financial crisis. While ASU has not officially commented on DuVal's resignation, a spokesperson stated that the university currently had no comment on the transition, as reported by State Press.
