UO trustee Rudy Chapa has announced his resignation from the governing board effective Feb. 15. Chapa, a 1981 alumnus with a degree in business administration, was appointed in fall 2013 as one of the inaugural members of the board.
In a letter to Gov. Kate Brown, Chapa wrote, “My service on the UO Board has been insightful and rewarding. The commitment of UO’s faculty, staff, donors and volunteers to the success of its students is palpable; and the work done by this inaugural board and a relatively new administration in such a short amount of time is inspiring. Never have I been more proud of or excited for my alma mater.”
He added that he will miss his role on the board but felt he needed to make the change due to time commitments required for a new professional endeavor.
“Rudy has been an exceptional member of the board, and we will miss him greatly,” board Chair Chuck Lillis said. “He is a man of tremendous character and depth who approached each issue with thoughtfulness and the utmost care for our students. On behalf of all of his colleagues, I thank him for his service and passion and wish him the best of luck.”
After graduating from the UO, where he was a member of the university’s track and field team, Chapa earned his law degree from Indiana University. His professional experience includes high level executive positions in sports marketing and corporate management. Chapa currently runs his own investment firm, Quixote Investment, based in Portland.
At-large positions on the governing board are volunteer posts with nominees selected by the governor. The governor will submit her choice to the Oregon Senate, which in turn votes on whether to confirm nominees.
Those interested in applying should contact University Secretary Angela Wilhelms, who can provide more detail on executive appointment processes and deadlines. She can be reached at wilhelms@uoregon.edu or 541-346-5561.
More information about the board can be found on the board of trustees website. General information about executive appointments can be found on the governor’s boards and commissions website.