Nevada Regents Vote Out UNLV President After 6-Hour Public Grilling

After months of highly public disputes, the question of President David B. Ashley’s fate at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas has been answered. The Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education decided today not to renew Mr. Ashley’s contract.

For more than six hours, regents grilled Mr. Ashley in a public meeting over his job performance and a controversial independent evaluation of his work that many said lacked legitimacy. The regents expressed disappointment with Mr. Ashley’s leadership style, saying he lacked communication skills and seemed passionless about the university. The regents focused especially on tensions involving his wife, Bonnie, and her alleged bullying of staff members.

Students, alumni, and faculty members were invited today to make comments, many of which were in favor of the embattled president. James E. Rogers, the outspoken former chancellor of the Nevada system, reiterated his view that Mr. Ashley should be removed.

In response, Mr. Ashley contended that the regents had focused on issues irrelevant to his performance as president. “I have confidence in my leadership,” he said. “I am absolutely committed to this university.” He added that he had learned from the presidential-evaluation process and said most issues brought to his attention were fixable.

But minutes later, all but one of the 11 regents voted not to renew his contract, which is set to expire in June 2010. The board unanimously voted to reassign him to a faculty professorship, effective immediately. —Ashley C. Killough