University of Idaho presidential finalist Diane Z. Chase brings 16 years of administrative experience to the table.
Since 2016, she has served as executive vice president and provost at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, as well as a professor in the Department of Anthropology.
Chase and her husband, Arlen, received both their bachelor’s and PhD in Anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania.
Together they have three children. The eldest, Adrian is completing his PhD in Anthropology at Arizona State University. Together, the three have authored four peer reviewed publications, according to her curriculum vitae. The husband-and-wife team served as guest curators at the Orlando Museum of Art for 10 years.
Chase spent a year as a lecturer at Princeton University followed by over 30 years at the University of Central Florida, starting out as a visiting assistant professor. She took her first administrative position in 2000 as the interdisciplinary coordinator for academic affairs. Chase and her husband were both named Pegasus professors at UCF and awarded recognizing excellence in teaching research and service.
“Appointing you was one of our university’s best actions. Our only regret is that new opportunities will take you from us,” College of Science dean Michael Johnson said at her farewell celebration, according to a UCF press release.
According to her UNLV biography, her archaeological work on the ancient Maya led to her appointment as Pegasus professor and led to her election as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2009.
While serving as executive vice president and provost, she has remained active in archeology through publishing articles and presenting in conferences. She continues to conduct fieldwork in Belize as part of the Caracol Archaeological Project that she has co-directed with her husband since 1985. According to the Caracol website, the 2018 field season was the first year that focused on the market economy that existed there.
At UNLV Chase works closely with the Nevada System of Higher Education, oversees 16 Colleges/schools and serves as chief academic and budget officer.
According to her CV, she enhanced security on campus with increased lighting, cameras, call areas and patrols. She also established the staff enrichment awards, providing tuition assistance for dependents of classified staff members and developed processes to enhance transparency university wide.
At the Community forum March 4, Chase said she thinks fit between a president and a university is extremely important. When she went to UNLV, she knew it was a good fit, and she believes that UI is a good fit as well, although she was not yet sure.
‘You could have a person that is a great president, a great leader in one place and is not great in another,” Chase said. “I think that is part of the issue that has happened in the past with the president.”
According to Transparent Nevada Chase makes nearly $293,000 at her UNLV position. Current UI President Chuck Staben’s salary sits at $385,230 according to UI Faculty salaries for the fiscal year.
The Idaho State Board announced in a news release that it plans to name UI’s 19th president by April.
Ellamae Burnell can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @Ellamae Burnell
Editor’s note: This is the first article in a series of profiles for finalists for the UI presidency.