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‘We will strengthen use technology and how it intersects with many are fortunate our main campus is located so close to
other areas of our lives, from biology and health, the downtown area, which has great energy from the
existing relationships like the precision medicine program, to how we get incredible investments and business developments
and build new to work with driverless cars. Tech Launch Arizona over the past several years. I’ve had a chance to
has begun to accelerate the UA’s commercialization meet with many people at some of the restaurants
collaborations to and technology transfer operations, which downtown, which are outstanding. I was also very
take the University of are crucial parts of that work. We have a great interested to learn that Tucson was the first U.S. city
opportunity to use that momentum to change the to be designated a World City of Gastronomy by the
Arizona to even higher university’s culture and encourage everyone to United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural

levels of achievement, work together to anticipate and address the changes Organization (UNESCO), which is an amazing honor,
that will come over the next several decades. and it is outstanding that the UA was part of the
working to solve the collaboration that led to this designation. With this
21st century’s most For our students, learning at a university focused amazing energy in Tucson, the UA has an opportunity
on these opportunities can be an avenue to to contribute to the continuing revitalization of
complex, global leadership in the global society we are forming. downtown, which will have an important impact
challenges.’ We need to understand how these technological on the city and entire region. I’m looking forward to
changes impact our relationships with one another, working with partners to make sure that happens.
— Robert C. Robbins and the UA can be a thought leader in addressing
that question, especially if we focus on helping Q: How can alumni and donors help you
students develop into well-rounded and civically as you begin as president of the UA?
engaged community members who are ready and A: Be engaged. I am struck by how deeply and
willing to contribute to the world around them. strongly our alumni feel connected to their UA
experience. Alumni who love the university can
Q: What do you like so far about being a Wildcat? volunteer their time in a variety of ways or support
A: This community is incredible. I have really the university through a donation. Donations from
enjoyed walking throughout campus and meeting alumni have incredible significance. In addition to
students, faculty and staff, and I am committed the opportunity to financially support the university,
to learning as much as I can about the university every alumni donation (even a $1 donation) literally
and the people here. My first day we held an open raises the stature of the university. One significant
house in Old Main. Hundreds of people turned out measure of university rankings in the U.S. News
and I got to meet and speak individually with many and World Report is the percent of alumni who
of them. Their passion for this university and the donate — not the size of the donation but the
work they do here is inspiring, and I am excited percentage of alumni who make any donation at all.
to be the UA’s biggest advocate and storyteller.
I’m excited to be the UA’s uniter and a collaborator
I’m also excited about Arizona Athletics. I said at the with many on campus and in our community
open house on my first day that I’m looking forward of supporters and friends around the world. We
to the football game against the University of Houston have more than 270,000 alumni who live and
this fall. UH’s president, Renu Khator, is a friend of work all over the world. That’s a lot of talented
mine, and I’m looking forward to a Wildcat victory people who can be an important resource for our
and to rooting on our teams throughout the year. students and faculty. We can all work together
to strengthen the university and its impact.
Q: What have been your early impressions
about campus and the Tucson community? I’m also looking forward to learning about the
A: This is a beautiful, vibrant campus. Each chance connections alumni and donors have with
I get to walk along the Mall or through some of the the UA and why the UA is important to them. I
older parts of campus, I’m struck by the architecture, welcome their ideas for how we can best partner
the sunshine and the welcoming feel of this campus. for the future of the UA, and I am excited to start
I feel at home here in Arizona and at the UA. I am a conversation with our alumni community.
also very impressed with Tucson’s downtown. We

8 ARIZONA ALUMNI MAGAZINE