Dr. J. Russell Nelson came to ASU in 1981 to be University President and he retired in 1989. He was born in Oregon but grew up in California and Utah. He received his PhD from UCLA and proceeded to teach…

Dr. J. Russell Nelson came to ASU in 1981 to be University President and he retired in 1989. He was born in Oregon but grew up in California and Utah. He received his PhD from UCLA and proceeded to teach at the University of Minnesota. He honed his administrative skills at the University of Colorado. When he arrived at ASU he was given the task of moving the university to a research university. In the interview he talks about the lack of teaching space and the effort required to reorient the faculties’ focus. Nelson spoke at length about several buildings, Hayden Library and the Nelson Fine Arts Center. There is discussion about getting around the Regents to get funding for the West Campus and the effort required to clean up the athletic department.

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    Title
    • Nelson, J. Russell
    Contributors
    Date Created
    2006-01-09
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    Resource Type
  • Moving Image
    • Note
    • Pam Stevenson, Editor; Manny Garcia, Videographer; Bob Francis, Chair Video History Project.
    Table Of Contents

  • 1. Introductions @ 0:00:00 2. Early Life @ 0:00:45 3. Academic Career Prior to ASU @ 0:15:41 4. Coming to ASU @ 0:21:49 Given new mission statement to transform ASU into a major research university 5. First Impressions @ 0:24:26 Crowded, under supplied with buildings 6. Transforming to Research University @ 0:27:15 a. Faculty / staff not aware of the actions of the Regents @ 0:27:15 b. Lack of teaching space / selling the idea of a Research University @ 0:28:37 c. Student population a mix unlike California University system @ 0:31:46 d. Educations for Research @ 0:36:25 7. Campus Buildings @ 0:38:20 Hideo Sasaki did campus / Hayden Library / Nelson Fine Arts Center, 8. Hobby @ 0:46:30 9. More on Nelson Fine Arts Center a. Antoine Predock wins international competition for design @ 0:52:05 b. Naming a building after a President / one exception Ralph Waldo Swetman @ 0:54:18 10. Funding Creation of West Campus @ 0:58:02 11. Cleaning Up The Athletic Department @ 1:05:20 12. Frank Sackton @ 1:10:18 13. Sun Angle Shenanigans 1:13:40 14. Formalizing Process & Policy @ 1:21:05 15. Centennial Fund Raising Campaign @ 1:26:15 16. Computers and Administrators @1:30:00 17. Changes to ASU @ 1:35:00 Lack of money / tuition is low compared to other universities 18. Proudest Effort 1:37:45 19. Special Memories – Entertaining @ 1:38:40 Martha Graham / Walter Cronkite / Rostropovich 20. Advice to Young People @ 1:46:22 21. Wrapping Up @ 1:47:40 Photography / why live in AZ

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    Nelson, J. Russell. Interview. 09 Jan. 2006. ASURA Video History Project. © Arizona Board of Regents. https://hdl.handle.net/2286/R.I.36629

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