Ann Weaver Hart

Ann Weaver Hart (born 1948) is the 21st and current president of the University of Arizona. She is the first woman to hold the position, which she assumed on November 30, 2012. Previously, Hart was the ninth president and first female chief executive of Temple University in Philadelphia, a position she held beginning on July 1, 2006.^[1]

Education

Hart received an M.A. in history and a Ph.D. in educational administration, both from the University of Utah. Her research interests include leadership succession and development, work redesign and organizational behavior in educational organizations, and academic freedom.

Publications

Her publications include more than 85 articles and book chapters and five books and edited volumes. Hart has also served as editor of Educational Administration Quarterly, the top refereed research journal in her field.

Selected publications

• The Principalship: A Theory of Professional Learning and Practice (1996) with Paul V. Bredeson
• Designing and Conducting Research (1996) with Clifford J. Drew and Michael L. Hardman

Career

Ann Weaver Hart came to the University of Arizona (UA) from Temple University, where she served as president from July 2006 until she assumed the presidency of the UA in July 2012. Before then, she served as president of the University of New Hampshire (UNH) and provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Claremont Graduate University, in Claremont, California. At the University of Utah, she served as professor of educational leadership, dean of the graduate school and special assistant to the president.

In September 2015, she also is known for receiving a substantial pay increase and "merit bonus" which totaled $140,000 and raised her annual salary to $645,000 annually. This pay raise sparked much criticism as this raise came during a year in which the UA had over 20% of its state funding cut, over 300 positions cut, and significantly raised tuition rates. Her public response to questions about her pay increase was, "No comment."

President Hart received a bachelor of science in history, a master of arts in history and a doctorate in educational administration, from the University of Utah. Her research interests include leadership succession and development, work redesign and organizational behavior in educational organizations, and academic freedom. She has published more than 85 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, five books and edited volumes, and other articles and essays.

During her career, Hart has been actively involved in leadership roles in numerous professional and service organizations. She is chair-elect of the Commission on International Programs of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges. While president at UNH, Hart served on the Board of Trustees of the University System of New Hampshire, the Board of Directors of Citizens Bank of New Hampshire, and the Board of Governors of New Hampshire Public Television, as well as serving as an incorporator of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation.

DeVry Controversy

In February 2016, DeVry Education Group announced that it had appointed President Hart and Linda P.B. Katehi, chancellor of the University of California, Davis, to serve on its board of directors.^[2] One month earlier, the Federal Trade Commission had filed a lawsuit against DeVry for deceptive advertising.^[3] Following criticism over her decision to join DeVry's board, Chancellor Katehi resigned from the board.^[2] President Hart continues to serve on DeVry's board of directors.^[4] Amid student protests,^[5] Hart announced on June 10, 2016 that she will not seek to extend to her employment contract with the University of Arizona past its June 30, 2018 end date.^[6]

Achievements

Among the professional and community service awards that Hart has received are the Jack Culbertson Award in Educational Administration from the University Council for Educational Administration; the Outstanding Professional Award from the Business and Professional Women's Foundation; the PoWeR Award from the Professional Women's Roundtable; the 2009 Champion of Diversity and Access Award from the Urban STEM Strategy Group; and the Outstanding Community Service Award from the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship. In addition to serving as the 21st president of the university, President Hart holds a faculty appointment in the College of Education as professor of educational policy studies and practice.

President Hart currently serves as a member of the following organizations:

• American Association of Universities
• Association of Public Land Grant Universities
• Arizona State Board of Education
• Campus Research Corporation
• DeVry Education Group
• Greater Phoenix Leadership
• Southern Arizona Leadership Council
• Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities, Chairman’s Circle
• UA Alumni Board
• UA Foundation Board
• Udall Foundation
• University of New Hampshire Foundation Board of Directors (Member Emeritus)

^[7]

She has been recognized for her achievements and service by many organizations, including the Business and Professional Women’s Foundation, the University Council for Educational Administration, and the Utah Women’s Forum, and has been honored as a Distinguished Alumna of the College of Humanities of the University of Utah.

Temple University

Early in Weaver Hart's first year as Temple University president she announced that after consultation with the board, a vacation period between the Christmas and New Year holidays would be re-offered. It had been rescinded during the Adamany administration.^[8] Weaver Hart also began a holiday party tradition during her first year.^[9] Hart is also known for the way in which she left Temple. Hart cited her need to assist her ill mother in Utah when describing her decision to resign.^[10] Within five months of the announcement of her resignation, Hart was announced among the finalists for the presidency of the University of Arizona. This announcement, not one known to the Temple community, elicited surprise from many.^[11]

Family

Weaver Hart and her husband, Randy, have four daughters, two granddaughters, and four grandsons. As a grandmother, she is known to sprinkle her introductions and speeches with mention of her young grandchildren.^[12]

References