Jeanine Dakduk

Name

Jeanine Dakduk

Occupation

Higher Education Professional

Political Office

State University Regent

Political Affiliation

Editor's Note: Candidate did not provide an answer.

How would you describe yourself to voters?

I am a hard-working, experienced higher education professional committed to lifelong learning. I am an advocate for breaking down barriers to student success. I am a bridge-builder.

What do you see as the top issues in this campaign?

A major issue in this campaign is that Nevadans are largely unaware of the role and responsibilities of the Board of Regents. But it shouldn’t be. The top issues voters should know about:

1. Hiring a chancellor

2. Addressing the budget shortfall

3. Stability of the system

In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges facing the state’s colleges and universities?

1. Addressing the dilemma of rising operating costs with shrinking state funding, while meeting the public demand for lower tuition and fees.

2. A heightened debt sensitivity and scrutiny over a degree’s return on investment.

3. Adapting to a new post-pandemic landscape.

In late 2021, former Chancellor Melody Rose filed a hostile workplace complaint alleging sexual discrimination and that some regents were undermining her. An investigation could not substantiate the sexual harassment, but it did note possible ethics violations. It also noted factionalism and tensions among board members. How would you, as a Regent, work to ease tensions on the board?

Tension is inherent to any board. Tension is not always necessarily bad. Healthy tension can inspire positive dialogue and debate. We have to make sure that the tension does not cross the line and turn into unhealthy conflict. I have a background in conflict resolution, mediation, and consensus-building. I can draw upon those skills to de-escalate tension and move back to a healthy debate.

What should the board look for in a new Nevada System of Higher Education Chancellor?

The next NSHE Chancellor needs to be a transformational leader. Dr. Kotter outlines an 8-step process in his book, Leading Change. It is imperative that the new Chancellor considers steps two and five of the 8-steps. Step two describes building a guiding coalition. In building a guiding coalition, the Chancellor should recognize they cannot win the hearts and minds of all parties involved. Step five calls for enabling action by removing barriers. Many barriers exist at NSHE. A strong Chancellor must have the ability to identify and remove the barriers holding our system back.