New vice chancellors to improve finance, communication

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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