President walks with students to hear input

Amanda Eggert

President Nagi Naganathan at the student organization fair on Aug. 27.

“I need your help: I am determined to lose 20 pounds by May, with the help of Walk with the President,” said UT interim president Nagi Naganathan, with a smile and a laugh, at New Student Convocation.

The heat from the sun burned down on the Student Activities Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 27, but Naganathan didn’t seem to mind. Wearing a dark grey suit, he walked the fair without breaking a sweat and stopped to talk to students and organizations as part of the first official Walk with the President.

“It was fascinating to see all of the organizations that are in place, that are functioning, and to see the student enthusiasm associated with that,” Naganathan said.

The newly named interim president said Walk with the President wasn’t initially his idea; it was actually that of a former student whose son is now going to UT. When he pitched the idea, Naganathan started Walk with the Dean last year.

Karen Bell, assistant to the interim provost, is in charge of working with Student Affairs in planning the walks so they fit with Naganathan’s schedule. She will also be with him on the walks so there will be a log of what the students ask in order to give attention to them in a timely fashion.

According to Naganathan, there were three informal Walks before the Student Activities Fair: two of which took place at the health science campus and the third at a College of Pharmacy event.

During the first Walk, he met some of his old engineering students and talked to other students about their time at UT and anything they had concerns about.

“These are real issues presented in a real way, not always about a PowerPoint presentation. It is really speaking about the issues in a plain way. I wanted to make sure I was listening to the voice,” Naganathan said.

He also said that when he was the dean of the College of Engineering, he made it his passion to listen to his students, and to make sure that they were comfortable talking with administration.

“The real issue is not so much the walk, even though it will do wonders for this body,” Naganathan said. “It’s about communicating to the students and anyone who wants to talk to me about the issues and things they are curious about.”

According to Naganathan, it is very important to have a successful mindset. “It’s like condition your body, but instead you are conditioning your mind.” He said that he advocated this when he was teaching at the College of Engineering.

“I want to look back and say that we got things done when I step down from office.” Naganathan said. He said that he wants to paint UT in a positive way, he wants “UT be a top choice in choosing where you go to college.”

One student expressed approval of Naganathan’s work as interim president.

“I think that he’s doing an amazing job,” said Brianna Cochran, a second-year social work student. “He has brought everyone together. Things were really jumbled last year, but he has been great at organizing everyone. Everyone knows their job and where they belong.”

University staff and faculty members also expressed their approval.

“He’s trying to keep everyone focused on what they do, and not on the fact that there was a change in leadership.” said Khaled Shahrour, a urologist at UTMC. “This has been great for people who are new and want to know that they will move ahead in their careers and they won’t stagnate.” Dan Saevig, associate vice president of alumni relations, said Naganathan “has done a wonderful job in a very short period of time. He is well liked by our alumni and the campus community and, as importantly, is also very well respected.”

Naganathan said he hasn’t made a decision as to whether he will put his name into the pool for the presidential search.

“The search is managed internally by the Board of Trustees,” Naganathan said. “I have the option to apply for the president, but I haven’t yet; I’d like to … see how the next few months go.”