VIRGINIA BEACH
Carlos Campo, Regent University's vice president for academic affairs, will succeed founder Pat Robertson as the school's next president in 2010.
Trustees voted unanimously Saturday for Campo, who had Robertson's endorsement. The selection was announced Monday.
"I don't think anyone would be presumptuous enough to fill Pat Robertson's shoes," Campo said. "I do know he's laid a foundation for a great institution."
Campo, hired for his current post in 2008, will take over as president in August. Robertson, 79, announced in the spring that he would retire next year as the school's president. He will have the title executive chairman of the board.
Robertson, who started the Christian Broadcasting Network, founded Regent in 1978.
The university has about 4,500 students in undergraduate and graduate programs, including some taught online. The main campus is in Virginia Beach, bordered by Interstate 264, Indian River Road and Centerville Turnpike.
In 2007, Robertson turned over daily management of CBN to his son, Gordon Robertson, who became chief executive officer.
Campo said he chatted with Gordon on Saturday.
"He said congratulations - and that no one knew how hard it was to follow Pat Robertson more than Gordon himself," Campo said.
Campo came to Regent from the College of Southern Nevada, where he was interim vice president of academic affairs. He previously served as the college's dean of arts and letters and director of academic partnerships.
Campo earned a doctorate in English from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and was an English professor and a college theater department chairman earlier in his career.
Campo said Monday that he didn't want Regent, which bills itself as "the nation's academic center for Christian thought and action," to be identified solely by its faith affiliation.
"From my perspective, we are a university," he said.
He said Regent's strategic plan envisions expanding the number of on-campus undergraduates to 2,500 within 10 years.
Past Regent presidents have included retired Army Lt. Gen. Paul G. Cerjan from 1997 to 2000; Terry Lindvall, a film scholar now at Virginia Wesleyan College, from 1993 to 1997; and David J. Gyertson, a college administrator and ex-CBN executive, from 1991 to 1993.
Robertson remains the host and public face of "The 700 Club," CBN's signature daily program that blends news and a talk-show format. CBN has headquarter s in Virginia Beach, adjacent to Regent's campus.
Robertson had heart surgery this summer to treat atrial fibrillation. He had a partial knee replacement in May 2007 and had a cancerous prostate gland removed by surgery in 2003.
Robertson resigned in 2001 as head of the Christian Coalition, the grass-roots religious lobby he founded. The group helped galvanize millions of evangelical Christians into political action in the 1990s.
Steven G. Vegh, (757) 446-2417, steven.vegh@pilotonline.com
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Correcting earlier "facts" ...
Operation Blessing has received federal subsidies for years. They began with a $500K demonstration grant in 1992, and by 1996 they were receiving $14.4 million a year. That's 14-point-4 million. Per year. In taxpayer funds. (Socialism? Do I hear anybody yelling "socialism"?
This info is easily available online, for those who enjoy claiming that others are wrong, without checking their own facts. To wit:
"Under President Bush, conservative Christian leader Pat Robertson’s international charity Operation Blessing has increased its annual revenue from government grants from $508,000 to $14.4 million.
"Ironically, Robertson expressed public misgivings about the Bush Administration's "faith-based initiatives" back in 2001. “I really don’t know what to do,” Robertson told viewers of his TV show, The 700 Club. “But this thing could be a real Pandora’s box. …What seems to be such a great initiative can rise up to bite the organizations as well as the federal government. And I’m a little concerned about it, frankly.”
Correcting earlier "facts" ...
Operation Blessing has received federal subsidies for years. They began with a $500K demonstration grant in 1992, and by 1996 they were receiving $14.4 million a year. That's 14-point-4 million. Per year. In taxpayer funds. (Socialism? Do I hear anybody yelling "socialism"?
This info is easily available online, for those who enjoy claiming that others are wrong, without checking their own facts. To wit:
"Under President Bush, conservative Christian leader Pat Robertson’s international charity Operation Blessing has increased its annual revenue from government grants from $508,000 to $14.4 million.
"Ironically, Robertson expressed public misgivings about the Bush Administration's "faith-based initiatives" back in 2001. “I really don’t know what to do,” Robertson told viewers of his TV show, The 700 Club. “But this thing could be a real Pandora’s box. …What seems to be such a great initiative can rise up to bite the organizations as well as the federal government. And I’m a little concerned about it, frankly.”
Beneath Contempt
People like Chris33, Speechless and johnp32882 are beneath contempt. I do not necessarily agree with Pat Robertson or with everything his organizations do, but he has done a lot of good in this world. People who make these disgraceful comments don't even have enough depth in their thinking to make an honest assessment.
Regent President
You have to give Regent credit for the way in which they have chosen their new leader. Dr. Campo is highly educated (at least on paper), has the required credentials for leadership at an educational institution of higher learning, and has served at Regent for a few years and proven his worth. Some of our local public institutions could take a lesson from this process. Hiring an unknown (NSU) based on hearsay has proven to be like playing Russian roulette and settling for someone less than qualified (ODU) just to hire from within to save money are not the best ways of choosing quality leadership.
Congrats
Congrats to Dr. Campo. I met him about a year ago, and he told me if I ever needed anything to contact him. I did....but didn't get a response.
However, still congrats!
Good News
This is good news. It seems Campo comes from a multi-cultural, highly academic background. This will help push Regent more into the mainstream and help all of Hampton Roads as a result. Regent could very well be on its way to becoming a prestigious private/religious university like Georgetown or Catholic. 4,000 well educated students in the Hampton Roads community with the type of ethics and morals encouraged by Regent is a good thing for the whole area. Congratulations Dr. Campo.
This Is News?
Report something about a real university!
real university?
Please describe a "real" university. Is it one of those universities that strongly promote a liberal agenda? Is that a "real" university? Or would a "real" university be one that promotes free thought and academic excellence? If it is the latter, then Regent is not only an accredited University, it is a "real" university as well.
Regent does promote free thought and debate. Ever hear of Clash of the Titans? When you can respectfully invite and listen to people who are on both ends of the political/ideological spectrum as they give thoughtful and insightful debate, I think the door for free and open thought is wide open.
I’m sorry speechless, but your thought is shallow and baseless.
You are so right
like all the crime that Regent does not have
http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2006/data/table_09_va.html
Best of luck Dr. Campo!
"Operation Blessing ranks 39th on the Chronicle of Philanthropy's list of the 400 largest charities as ranked by private contributions. Revenue at the Virginia Beach-based charity jumped to $407 million, up from $279 million in 2007.
Operation Blessing ranks 39th on the Chronicle of Philanthropy's list of the 400 largest charities as ranked by PRIVATE contributions. Revenue at the Virginia Beach-based charity jumped to $407 million, up from $279 million in 2007."
----------------------------------
We may not like or agree with Mr. Robertson on many issues.....but no one can deny that he has provided help and assistance to thousands of Americans using PRIVATE DONATIONS.......NO government assistance OR taxpayer dollars!
Enjoy your retirement, Mr. Robertson!
I believe you're mistaken on this one...
Like other "faith based charities," I believe Mr. Robertson was previously given federal subsidies by the Bush administration, which I also understand Obama is continuing to this day.
I somewhat agree Pat Robertson has developed Operation Blessing based upon mostly private donations, but the who, what or how much will never be released. Why all the secrecy behind all his operations? And how do we know how much he skims??? I believe he's a con artist and a false prophet, who swindles every penny he can out of the deeply religious to build his empire (or should I say dominion?). I never cared for him; never trusted him, and never will either...
How sad!
"I believe "
Does that make it FACT?
"the charity works with food companies and manufacturers to gather surplus staples for needy families and disaster victims.
The organization provides disaster, development and medical assistance globally. In Hampton Roads, it supplies food banks and provided relief aid in Suffolk after the 2008 tornado."
-----------------------------
It's a SAD time in our country when people are given the "Thumbs down" for helping others.
When is the last time YOU helped someone in need?
WHY are you so angry when you, personally have not paid $1 into his charities?
So easy to type a comment, with no real basis!
$1 billion dollar endowment fund
Another bigoted leader for Robertson's "university." Robertson has a $1 billion dollar endowment fund. It's all about the money, my friends.
Rejoice!
Hallelujah!
Matthew 7: 2
"For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Hypocritical, self- righteous judgement of others is wrong according to
God's word.
Do Not Judge
It's about judging sin, rather than the sinner.
Consider parents: They protect their children from immoral/harmful behavior, as they usually point such behavior out to them. In short, parents tell them that some things will hurt(e.g., murder, theft, and deception). If they know that someone who they are hanging with will lead him/her down a harmful path, the parent will (again) protect the child. In both cases, they are (in fact) judging the sin in order to protect.
Robertson
I do not always agree (in fact, rarely) with Mr. Robertson, but look at Regent - he has done some great work and I congratulate him.
Great Choice
Clark County Nevada educator. Latin business member. Arthur Miller Society writer. Family man from Chesapeake that likes tennis & biking.
Dr. Campo will be a refreshing new face for the university worldwide.
"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”-Ghandi
great choice
Your comment has merit, but aren't we all sinners? Some of us just have a difficult time looking inward.
well
Good Luck!!