TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - It's an organization that pumps more than eight billion dollars into Arizona's economy and it needs a new leader.
We're talking about the University of Arizona, which is looking for a new university president.
Arizona's Board of Regents will choose the new president and now the short list is down to two.
Excellence in education, research, academics, sports and student success are part of what the board of Regents says it wants in a new President.
Their choices are down to Sethuraman Panchanathan and Robert Clayton Robbins.
Panchanathan usually goes by Panch. He comes from UA's in-state rival, Arizona State, where he leads a department dedicated to advancing innovation, entrepreneurship and economic development at ASU. In ASU videos he refers to that university as a knowledge enterprise.
“We are producing three things through this knowledge enterprise view, namely people, ideas and things."
Doctor Robert Clayton Robbins is an accomplished heart surgeon who leads the largest medical complex in the world---Texas Medical Center in Houston. There he worked to get a collection of sophisticated research hospitals and medical schools to work together.
In a Texas Medical Center video he says, "I think there needs to be a culture of collaboration to believe that by working together through collaboration that everybody's gonna be better."
Students like UA Freshman Alyssa Moore hope whoever becomes UA President will look out for student interests.
"To be able to fit in and intertwine different aspects together.”
KGUN9 reporter Craig Smith asked: "So campus life is a big issue?”
Moore: “Yeah: Because I feel like whatever your major is if you can all come together as Wildcats that really creates a stronger campus bond."
The Regents have not set a deadline for their decision but say the new president could be on the job by this summer.
