Rep. Gail Armstrong

Political and academic circles were abuzz with speculation in February that billionaire businesswoman Meg Whitman was interested in becoming the next president of the University of New Mexico. We broke the story of her apparent interest on our February 4 blog but it was left unconfirmed. Now it has been confirmed quite publicly and vocally by state House Minority Leader Gail Armstrong. She says UNM missed an "extraordinary opportunity" when they passed over Whitman for the presidency.

The Regents named five finalists in April to replace outgoing president Garnett Stokes but Whitman, who settled in ABQ in early 2025 when her husband, Griffith Harsh, was named chairman of the UNM neurosurgery department, did not make the list. 

Whitman, a Republican turned Dem who once ran for California Governor, has personal wealth put at $3.6 billion by Forbes which ranked her as the 1,100 richest person on the planet. 

But being a billionaire these days isn't exactly a gateway to popularity especially among progressives who are influential in university communities. That Whitman had an MBA from Harvard but not a Ph.D was also an issue, indicates Armstrong. 

When Whitman, 69, penned a newspaper op-ed commenting on the state economy the buzz over her and UNM leaped several decibels. That's an angle Leader Armstrong drew on in praising Whitman and declaring that UNM missed out when they passed her over. 

Excerpts:

Meg Whitman, one of the most accomplished executives in modern American business and public service, sought the presidency of University of New Mexico. A former Fortune 50 CEO and U.S. ambassador, she was eliminated before reaching the final round of interviews, denied even the opportunity to present her vision to the broader university community. . .

Whitman. . . transformed eBay from a startup into a global enterprise, demonstrating an ability to scale organizations, manage complexity, and compete at the highest levels. At Hewlett-Packard, she led one of the most significant corporate restructurings in recent history. . . In public service, she represented the United States as ambassador to Kenya. .  These are not academic exercises. They are real-world demonstrations of leadership under pressure, exactly the kind of experience that large, complex institutions require. 

Meg Whitman

Critics may point out that she does not come from a traditional higher education background. That is true. But. . . many of the most effective university presidents have come from outside academia, bringing. . . a results-oriented mindset that legacy systems often lack. Leading a modern research university is not only about academic credentials, managing a multi-billion dollar enterprise (and) driving innovation. Our state continues to struggle near the bottom in education outcomes. . . Too often, we default to familiar choices rather than pursuing bold, forward-looking leadership. 

What could a Whitman presidency have meant for UNM? It would have meant proven executive leadership at the highest level, someone who understands how to build organizations, attract top talent, and deliver results. It would have meant immediate national and international visibility, elevating UNM’s profile and competitiveness. . .

Institutions that are unwilling to pursue top-tier leadership should not be surprised when they struggle to achieve top-tier outcomes. The University of New Mexico is too important to settle for incrementalism. It should be a driver of innovation, economic growth, and opportunity. . .UNM deserved a bold choice. Instead, the Regents allowed an extraordinary opportunity to pass them by. 

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