Bernie Machen Information & Bernie Machen Links at HealthHaven.com

Dr. J. Bernard Machen
Dr. J. Bernard Machen
Born	March 26, 1944 (age 65); Greenwood, Mississippi
Education	B.A, Vanderbilt University, 1966; D.D.S., Saint Louis University, 1968; M.S., University of Iowa, 1972; Ph.D., University of Iowa, 1974;
Occupation	University President; University Administrator; University Professor; Dental Surgeon;
Spouse(s)	Chris Ackerman Machen

James Bernard "Bernie" Machen (born March 26, 1944) is an American university professor and administrator. Machen is currently the eleventh president of the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida, serving since 2003. Previously, he served as the president of the University of Utah located in Salt Lake City, Utah, from 1998 to 2003.

[edit] Early life & education

Bernie Machen was born in Greenwood, Mississippi in 1944, and grew up in Saint Louis, Missouri.^[1] He graduated from Vanderbilt University with his bachelor's degree in 1966, and was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity (Alpha Psi Chapter). He also graduated from Saint Louis University with his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1968, from the University of Iowa with a Master of Science degree in pediatric dentistry in 1972 and Doctor of Philosophy degree in educational psychology in 1974.

Before Utah and Florida, Machen was employed in various capacities as professor and administrator by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Michigan.^[1] Additionally, he served in various ways with the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the National Academy of Sciences, and the American Association of Dental Schools.^[1] While serving as the president of the University of Utah, Machen served on the board of trustees of the Salt Lake Olympic Organizing Committee for the 2002 Winter Olympics.^[2] He is a retired U.S. Army major.^[1]

[edit] University of Florida president

During Florida's 2004 search that resulted in the hiring of new head football coach Urban Meyer, it was speculated that Machen's relationship with Meyer might play a role in the selection.^[3] Machen was the president at Utah when Meyer was hired as head coach there.^[4]

Machen is also noteworthy for providing subsidized health care to graduate students. The University of Florida's Graduate Student Council worked to bring the issue to his attention and worked with high-level members of Machen's staff, including the vice-president of student affairs and the vice-president of human resources, to iron out an agreement. GSC and Graduate Assistants United (GAU), the labor union that represents graduate workers, worked with faculty and staff to hear bids from insurance companies to provide health insurance for graduate students who work for the university as teaching or research assistants. After this group selected a plan, GAU negotiated with the administration to include the new program, GatorGradCare, in their collective bargaining agreement. The plan was announced on June 17, 2006, and began in January, 2007.

On January 2009 Machen announced his initiative to increase diversity in the University of Florida's faculty. His leadership was instrumental in creating a Council on Diversity that will be in charge of collecting and analyzing data from different colleges and departments, as well as proposing policies to increase diversity around the university.^[5]

Bernie Machen at the University of Florida.

In February 2009, Machen and the Board of Trustees stipulated that they are going to have the University of Florida go through a major transition. The Board of Trustees supported the reduction of the number of undergraduates and shifting resources to graduate education and research in the future.^[6]

Machen and his wife, Chris, have three children and four grandchildren. Lee, born in 1972, is married to Julie and lives in Portland, Oregon, with grandson Noah born in 2003, and granddaughter Neve born in 2005. Michael, born in 1975, is married to Monika and lives in Chicago, Illinois, with granddaughters Maya and Molly born in 2005 and 2009, respectively. Daughter Maggie, born in 1980, lives in Red Bank, New Jersey.

[edit] Salary

Machen is paid $750,000 a year, the fourth largest salary in the country for a university president, once performance bonuses are included.^[7] He has been criticized for reducing funding to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences by both faculty and other administrators.^[8] However, in December 2008, Machen announced that he would give his yearly bonus of $285,000 back to the University of Florida with the stipulation that the money had to be used to help fund the Florida Opportunity Scholars Program.^[9]^[10]

[edit] Controversy

Machen has most recently stirred a mild controversy by making a veiled innuendo regarding the University of Michigan's academics as they relate to student-athletes and implying that Ohio State University basketball star Greg Oden's academic schedule is a joke.^[11]

[edit] Politics

President Machen stands against the boycotting of Israeli universities. He condemned the proposed boycott in a letter that ran as a full-page advertisement in the August 8, 2007 edition of The New York Times. He helped write the letter in opposition to a recent vote by Britain's leading faculty union, which decided to debate the possibility of boycotting Israeli academic institutions. If passed by Britain's University and College Union, the boycott would cut off relations with Israeli schools to serve as a rebuke of Israel's Palestinian policies.

In January 2008, Machen publicly endorsed Senator John McCain for President of the United States. However, Machen cautioned that it should not be interpreted as an endorsement from the entire UF community. Bernie Machen also described how he has been a long-time supporter of Senator McCain.^[12]

In August 2009, Machen publicly endorsed George LeMieux to fill Senator Mel Martinez's United States Senate seat. Machen cited LeMieux's strong support for Higher Education and agreed with Governor Charlie Crist's selection. He also stipulated that he was not supporting LeMieux for political reasons.^[13]

Machen and his wife, Chris, left for a week–long trip to Iran on Thursday, November 13th, 2008. The University of Florida's first couple was part of a delegation that included six U.S. university presidents. While in Iran, the presidents visited universities in Tehran and elsewhere and met with their presidents and faculty. At Sharif University, the presidents were part of a forum with Iranian students.^[14]

Machen and his wife Chris wrote a letter to the editor published in the Gainesville Sun expressing their opposition to a city charter amendment on the March 2009 Gainesville city election ballot that would prohibit transgender individuals from using gender specific public facilities for their chosen gender identity as opposed to their physical identity.^[15]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d University of Florida, The President, J. Bernard Machen. Retrieved September 2, 2009
^ University of Florida, Office of the President, President J. Bernard Machen. Retrieved September 2, 2009.
^ English, Antonya, "Florida president will be heard," St. Petersburg Times (October 29, 2004). Retrieved May 3, 2005.
^ Dan Wetzel, "A true champion," Yahoo Sports! (December 5, 2006). Retrieved December 5, 2006.
^ Chelsea Keenan, "UF seeks greater diversity among faculty," The Independent Florida Alligator (January 8, 2009). Retrieved August 27, 2009.
^ Nathan Crabbe, "UF looks to transform itself," Gainesville Sun (February 21, 2009).
^ Associated Press, "College heads see climb in compensation," USA Today (November 21, 2006). Retrieved March 28, 2007.
^ John H. Moore, "The origins of the CLAS 'debt'," text of speech (November 14, 2006). Retrieved September 2, 2009.
^ Thomas Stewart, "Machen plans to donate bonus to scholarship program," The Independent Florida Alligator (December 9, 2008). Retrieved August 27, 2009.
^ Nathan Crabbe, "Will Meyer donate big pay day to UF scholarhsip fund?" Gainesville Sun (January 7, 2009). Retrieved August 27, 2009.
^ "Florida's Machen pushes playoff with a payoff," CBS Sportsline (April 3, 2007). Retrieved April 9, 2007.
^ Deborah Swerdlow, "Machen announces McCain endorsement," The Independent Florida Alligator (January 22, 2008). Retrieved August 27, 2009.
^ Thomas Stewart, "Machen endorses Crist's Senate pick to replace Martinez,' The Independent Florida Alligator (September 1, 2009). Retrieved September 2, 2009.
^ Thomas Stewart, "UF President Bernie Machen visits Iran," The Independent Florida Alligator (November 14, 2008). Retrieved August 27, 2009.
^ Chris & Bernie Machen, "Keep Gainesville a city of tolerance," letter to the editor, Gainesville Sun (March 8, 2009). Retrieved September 2, 2009.

[edit] Bibliography

University of Florida, Office of the President, J. Bernard Machen. Retrieved May 3, 2005.
Pleasants, Julian M., Gator Tales: An Oral History of the University of Florida, University of Florida, Gainesvile, Florida (2006).

[edit] External links

University of Florida - Official website of the University of Florida.
University of Utah - Official website of the University of Utah.

Academic offices
Preceded by Charles E. Young	Eleventh President of the University of Florida 2003 – Present	Incumbent
Preceded by Arthur K. Smith	President of the University of Utah 1998 – 2003	Succeeded by Michael K. Young

[ufpresident-0] University of Florida, The President, J. Bernard Machen. Retrieved September 2, 2009

[1] University of Florida, Office of the President, President J. Bernard Machen. Retrieved September 2, 2009.

[2] English, Antonya, "Florida president will be heard," St. Petersburg Times (October 29, 2004). Retrieved May 3, 2005.

[Wetzel_Machen-3] Dan Wetzel, "A true champion," Yahoo Sports! (December 5, 2006). Retrieved December 5, 2006.

[4] Chelsea Keenan, "UF seeks greater diversity among faculty," The Independent Florida Alligator (January 8, 2009). Retrieved August 27, 2009.

[5] Nathan Crabbe, "UF looks to transform itself," Gainesville Sun (February 21, 2009).

[6] Associated Press, "College heads see climb in compensation," USA Today (November 21, 2006). Retrieved March 28, 2007.

[7] John H. Moore, "The origins of the CLAS 'debt'," text of speech (November 14, 2006). Retrieved September 2, 2009.

[8] Thomas Stewart, "Machen plans to donate bonus to scholarship program," The Independent Florida Alligator (December 9, 2008). Retrieved August 27, 2009.

[9] Nathan Crabbe, "Will Meyer donate big pay day to UF scholarhsip fund?" Gainesville Sun (January 7, 2009). Retrieved August 27, 2009.

[10] "Florida's Machen pushes playoff with a payoff," CBS Sportsline (April 3, 2007). Retrieved April 9, 2007.

[11] Deborah Swerdlow, "Machen announces McCain endorsement," The Independent Florida Alligator (January 22, 2008). Retrieved August 27, 2009.

[12] Thomas Stewart, "Machen endorses Crist's Senate pick to replace Martinez,' The Independent Florida Alligator (September 1, 2009). Retrieved September 2, 2009.

[13] Thomas Stewart, "UF President Bernie Machen visits Iran," The Independent Florida Alligator (November 14, 2008). Retrieved August 27, 2009.

[14] Chris & Bernie Machen, "Keep Gainesville a city of tolerance," letter to the editor, Gainesville Sun (March 8, 2009). Retrieved September 2, 2009.

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