Board reappoints Locatelli for a record 4th term

By Jack Gillum

The Board of Trustees unanimously chose to reappoint University President Paul Locatelli, S.J., to a fourth term in office last week, extending his current tenure by six years.

Board Chairman Mike Markkula said in a written statement that the 66-year-old Jesuit's leadership has been "nothing short of exemplary" since he took office in 1988.

Several of the 32 members on the board were not present for a vote, said Jim Briggs, Locatelli's executive assistant. He could not say if the absent members would have voted to reappoint the president.

"It is a blessing to be part of Santa Clara at this most exciting time in our history," the president said in a statement. Locatelli's current appointment would have previously ended in 2006.

The reappointment process began last fall and evaluated the president on a variety of criteria, Briggs said.

But he was unaware of the board's specific rankings, citing instead that trustees wanted to see "continuity in leadership" for the "Campaign for Santa Clara," the largest fundraising effort to date.

Under--funding has recently slowed that campaign, pushing back construction dates of several key projects. The project has raised $250 million out of a projected $350 million thus far, the university said.

Markkula was out of town and could not be reached for further comment.

Locatelli graduated from Santa Clara, and was an academic vice president for six years before taking office. He has also previously worked at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles as an accounting professor.

*Contact Jack Gillum at (408) 554-4849 or jgillum@scu.edu.