EUGENE–Philip J. Romero, the former top economic adviser to California Gov. Pete Wilson, this summer will become dean of the University of Oregon’s Charles H. Lundquist College of Business.

John Moseley, provost and academic vice president, made the announcement today (May 6). The exact date of Romero’s arrival is under discussion.

Romero has a unique background that combines think-tank economics with high-visibility government policy work. After years as a research economist at California’s RAND Corporation, in 1991 he was tapped by then Gov. Wilson to become California’s chief economist. While serving a number of positions in the Wilson administration, he was a key player in designing an economic recovery plan for the state that fueled more than $10 billion in economic development.

He also led a successful campaign to restructure the electric and telephone industries. These policies and programs played a major role in California’s economic recovery. As a result, California went from last in the nation in job growth to nearly twice the national average–from losing 1,000 jobs per day to gaining 1,000. Based on his work in California during this period, Romero received the federal 1995 award for Outstanding Leadership by a Latino.

"Philip Romero will bring a new perspective to the Lundquist College and, indeed, to the university. His experience with business, government and RAND will be very valuable in his effectiveness as dean," says Moseley.

Romero, 42, has maintained close connections to academia. He has taught graduate-level classes at the University of California at Los Angeles, the University of Southern California, Pepperdine University, and at California State University graduate schools. Romero graduated in 1980 from Cornell University with a dual major in economics and government. He earned a doctorate in policy analysis in 1988 from the RAND Graduate School in Santa Monica, Calif.

Romero succeeds Tim McGuire, who left last year for a job in the private sector. Professor Dale Morse served as interim dean of the Lundquist College of Business while the UO conducted a national search to fill the position.

"I am an outsider to both academia and to Oregon, so I have a lot to learn. But I hope my fresh perspective can help the Lundquist College of Business serve its core constituents in new ways. In particular, I hope to continue building alliances between business and education. The college’s mission should be to serve Oregon business in two ways–by turning out quality grads today and by offering knowledge that will give Oregon business a competitive advantage in the future."

The announcement of Romero’s selection concludes a national search that attracted more than 60 applicants. UO education dean Martin Kaufman headed the search committee.

Romero will head one of the oldest and most respected business education programs in the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1914, the Charles H. Lundquist College of Business was ranked in the top 40 in the most recent U.S. News & World Report listing. The Lundquist College includes the innovative James H. Warsaw Sports Marketing Center and Lundquist Center for Entrepreneurship, as well as nationally recognized undergraduate and MBA programs.

This fall, the UO Lundquist College enrolled 1,782 undergraduate and 201 graduate students, taught by 49 faculty members.

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