Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano has been nominated as the next president of the University of California system, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.
UC officials told the Times that her experiences in the Obama administration, including heading anti-terrorism initiatives, would be an advantage in administering UC’s federal energy and nuclear weapons labs, among other federally funded research.
A source close to Napolitano told the Times that Napolitano considered the position for a long time after she was first contacted about the post.
“I think she loves working for President Obama and serving the American people, but at the same time, this is a unique opportunity,” the source told the Times. “UC is probably the premier institution in the country. She is motivated by the fact that being a part of UC, she will be a part of educating future leaders of tomorrow and be part of a state that sets so much of the agenda nationally.”
Napolitano’s appointment will make her the first woman to head the UC system in the 145 years since it was founded.
