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Monday, March 1, 1999

New vice chancellors to improve finance, communication

ADMINISTRATION: Olsen, Benavidez bring UCLA expertise from state jobs

By Lawrence Ferchaw

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

Two new administrators were appointed last month, taking charge of departments which have either been filled by an interim appointment or left vacant since being created.

Steven Olsen was selected to be the first vice chancellor for finance and budget, effective Feb. 1. Max Benavidez assumed the role of assistant vice chancellor of university communications on Feb. 16, a position that had not been permanently filled since 1997.

Olsen and Benavidez are both UCLA alumni, returning to the university after working for a variety of state agencies and other universities.

Olsen, who graduated from UCLA in 1977, worked as an analyst for the state legislature, served as deputy director of the California Department of Finance, and most recently served as chief deputy director of the California Department of General Services.

Chancellor Albert Carnesale cited Olsen's experience in Sacramento as a reason for his selection.

"An expert in state government finance, Steve brings to us not only a broad knowledge of finance and budgeting, but particular expertise in those functions as they pertain to the University of California," Carnesale said in an e-mail announcing Olsen's selection.

Olsen said he has much work ahead of him, especially as the first person to hold the position as it is currently titled.

"My basic task is to develop a financial strategy for the university that supports the academic mission," Olsen said.

Among the projects ahead for Olsen will be the examination of Information for Resource Management (INFORM), the university's new financial allocation system. He will also work with Executive Vice Chancellor Rory Hume on the new strategic planning system that Hume implemented this year.

"(There is) concern that academic issues are driven by financial considerations. That's backwards," Olsen said.

Last year, Carnesale eliminated the position of vice chancellor of academic planning and budget and shifted all academic planning functions to the executive vice chancellor in consultation with the chancellor.

Carnesale said he transformed the position so that it "reflects my desire to have in the administration a person whose principal expertise is in the area of finance as it applies to higher education."

The central role of finances demand someone at the vice chancellor level to oversee them, Olsen added.

Though he has not previously worked in university administration, Olsen said that there are many similarities in structure and task to where he has worked before.

"A lot of things are very recognizable. It's a large complex organization, there is capital planning, budgetary issues, financial management, human resources - all of these are familiar," Olsen said.

Also familiar with his field, Benavidez has worked in public relations at a number of institutions, been a reporter and taught writing courses at UCLA Extension and other schools.

Benavidez, who most recently worked at the California Institute of Technology as the director of media relations, will head the University Communications office, which is responsible for answering media questions and publicizing people and events at the university.

"My work is to articulate what's here to the public," Benavidez said.

"It's a bigger playing field," he said of the move to UCLA. "There isn't a place in the world like UCLA and that's a big part of the challenge."

Among the tasks ahead of him is a search for individuals to head the two offices that make up University Communications - Publications and Public Information.

"He knows how to produce publications, he has excellent communication skills and relations with media across the country," said Michael Eicher, the vice chancellor of external affairs and the person responsible for appointing Benavidez after an extensive search.

Since University Communications is responsible for letting the public know what UCLA is doing, Benavidez said his department benefits everyone at the university.

"It's a confirmation of the whole sense that you're part of a community and a place trying to have a positive impact on people who live here; people want to hear that," Benavidez said.

The appointment of Benavidez is the first of a number of appointments ahead for the External Affairs division; the other three departments are headed by interim appointments.

Eicher said he is in the process of forming a team in External Affairs that can work together and take advantage of areas in which departments overlap.

Benavidez and Olsen, whose salaries are $122,496 and $168,200 respectively, are the first appointments to the administration from outside of the university since Carnesale came to UCLA in July 1997.Charles Kuo/Daily Bruin

Steven Olsen will be the vice chancellor of finance and budget.

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