In the News
“Fall classes at University of the Pacific,” KCRA3 (NBC, Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto) and KQCA-TV (My58), June 13, 2020: President Designate Christopher Callahan was interviewed via Zoom for this story about the reopening plan for the fall semester.
“Incoming University of the Pacific president wants to change university’s ‘speed of play’,” Sacramento Business Journal, Feb. 6, 2020: President Designate Christopher Callahan was featured in this Q&A interview. “When you look at Pacific and the history, it’s one of the most innovative schools in our country,” Callahan told the Sacramento Business Journal. “It was the first to found a conservatory, the first to go co-ed. It incorporated the McGeorge school. If you’re looking at the history, it’s a history of higher education innovation, which was a big draw for me.” This was one of two interviews that day. The other was with “Insight With Beth Ruyak” (Capital Public Radio, NPR). The Sacramento Business Journal story was republished by its sister paper: “Former ASU exec dishes on plan of action in preparation for new job as California university president,” Phoenix Business Journal, Feb. 10, 2020
“University Of The Pacific President-Designate Christopher Callahan,” Capital Public Radio’s “Insight With Beth Ruyak,” Jan. 28, 2020: Pacific President-Designate Christopher Callahan was interviewed and talked about his upbringing, being a first-generation college student, his life in journalism, and his journey to higher education and becoming the next president of California’s oldest chartered university. “One of the things that has always struck me about Pacific is that its history is filled with innovation. Arguably, Pacific has been one of the most innovative universities in our country dating back to when we were the first co-ed institution in California, with the first medical school. … The history and the fiber and the DNA of Pacific is all about innovation.”
“Cronkite Students Spend Thanksgiving Dinner with Dean Callahan – One Last Time,” Cronkite.ASU.edu, Dec. 2, 2019: Over the years, Chris and Jean Callahan have invited into their home Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication students who were unable to make it to their own homes for Thanksgiving. “Jean and I just hated the idea that our out-of-state freshmen who couldn’t get home for the holiday would spend Thanksgiving in a mostly empty Taylor Place,” Callahan told Cronkite.ASU.edu. “So we thought they would appreciate spending Thanksgiving with our family.” The story concluded: “Though this was the last ‘Thanksgiving with the Callahans’ at ASU, you can bet a slice of smoked turkey that students will be gathering next Thanksgiving in the President’s Residence at the University of the Pacific. ‘Most definitely, Jean and I are taking this tradition with us,’ Callahan said.”
“Transitions: New President Selected at U. of the Pacific, Interim Leader Named for U. of West Georgia,” The Chronicle of Higher Education, Nov. 26, 2019: President Designate Christopher Callahan was included in The Chronicle’s Transitions section: “Christopher Callahan, founding dean of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and vice provost of the downtown Phoenix campus at Arizona State University, will become president of University of the Pacific on July 1. He will replace Maria Pallavicini, who has served as interim president since Pamela A. Eibeck retired in July.” A photo of Callahan was used with the online version of the feature.
“Pacific names ‘truly visionary’ president,” The Record, Nov. 22, 2019: Chris Callahan, Board of Regents Chair Kevin Huber, and professors Rick Hutley and James Hetrick were quoted in The Record’s front-page story announcing that Callahan had been named Pacific’s next president. “Innovation is central to the success of higher education in general in America,” Callahan told The Record. “Honestly, traditionally, higher education, most universities have been very change resistant. They’ve been slow and we’re in an era now where slow is not going to work. … Some people say we want to be collaborative and therefore you can’t move quickly, you can’t be nimble. I utterly reject that. You can do both. We’ve done both.” News outlets in California and Arizona covered the story:
“University of the Pacific names a new president,” KCRA3 (NBC, Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto), Nov. 21, 2019
“New president named today,” KCRA3, Nov. 21, 2019: The story ran at least twice at about 5:30 a.m. and 6:15 a.m.
“UOP finds president to bring ‘expansive vision’ to state’s oldest chartered university,” The Sacramento Bee, Nov. 21, 2019
“The founding dean of the Cronkite School is leaving,” KTAR-FM (Phoenix DMA), Nov. 21, 2019
“ASU Cronkite school Dean Christopher Callahan to be next president of University of the Pacific,” ABC15 (Phoenix, Arizona), Nov. 21, 2019
“University of the Pacific has named its next leader,” Capital Public Radio (NPR, Sacramento-Stocktokn-Modesto), Nov. 21, 2019
“Founding Cronkite School dean named next president of University of the Pacific,” ASUNow.edu, Nov. 21, 2019
“Founding dean of Cronkite School named next president of University of the Pacific,” AZCentral.com (Arizona Republic), Nov. 21, 2019
“Founding dean of Cronkite School to be next president of California university,” The State Press, Nov. 21, 2019
“ASU Cronkite school Dean Christopher Callahan to be next president of University of the Pacific,” KNXV-TV (ABC 15, Phoenix, Arizona), Nov. 21, 2019
“Founding Cronkite School Dean Named Next President of University of the Pacific,” Cronkite.ASU.edu, Nov.; 21, 2019
“Pacific gets new president,” Lodi News-Sentinel, Nov. 22, 2019 (Subscribers can read the story at Lodinews.com.)
“Founding ASU journalism dean named president of California university,” Phoenix Business Journal, Nov. 21, 2019
“UOP Names Arizona State Journalism School Dean As New President,” Capital Public Radio, Nov. 21, 2019
“Cronkite School dean leaving to be president of California university,” KJZZ-FM (NPR, Phoenix, Arizona), Nov. 22, 2019
“Founding dean of Walter Cronkite School to say good-bye to ASU in June,” Downtown Devil, Nov. 22, 2019
“On the move at Banner Health, ASU, Rusing Lopez & Lizardi,” AZBigMedia.com, Nov. 22, 2019