University Regent Doug Seastrand resigned from the University and Community College System board Thursday because he has gotten a job at UNLV.
As of Monday, Seastrand will be a principal computer scientist within UNLV's Institute for Security Studies Office of Advanced Studies, Seastrand and university officials said. The job falls under the umbrella of UNLV's private research foundation and Seastrand will be responsible for helping the university develop and transfer technology to help local and federal agencies combat terrorism and improve homeland security, Seastrand and university officials said.
The position is a natural career choice, said Seastrand, who owns his own computer and software engineering firm, Prime Services Inc., and who has consulted on homeland security issues in the past.
"I'm a patriot," Seastrand said. "I've always felt very close to the issues of homeland security and felt the need to support our folks who are fighting terrorism."
Because the position is supported by non-state money, Seastrand said he could have legally stayed on as a regent but he said he wanted to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest.
"I wouldn't personally feel comfortable asking people to overlook questions that would arise," Seastrand said.
The Nevada Ethics Commission previously ruled that Regent Howard Rosenberg, an art professor at UNR, could serve as a regent and keep his position at the university.
Gov. Kenny Guinn will be appointing someone to serve in Seastrand's place, representing east Las Vegas' District 6, spokesman Greg Bortolin said.
Seastrand's announcement caught several regents and institutional representatives by surprise Thursday afternoon at the very end of a search committee meeting to appoint the next chancellor. Regent Jill Derby fought back tears as she congratulated Seastrand on the new position and commended his service to the university system.
Derby said Seastrand knows "what it means to be a public servant" with his "fair-mindedness, thoughtfulness and diligence." Seastrand served as the board chairman from July 1, 2002 to June 30, 2003, and also served on numerous committees, most recently as chairman of the regent's committee on technology.
UNLV President Carol Harter also choked up as she congratulated Seastrand, saying she was sad to be losing him as a regent even as her university gained him as a researcher.
The position, which will pay Seastrand $105,000 a year, is highly classified and required a national security clearance, UNLV spokeswoman Hilarie Grey said. The job required a bachelor of science degree and 15 years of related experience. The university conducted a national search to fill the position, Grey said.
Seastrand holds a bachelor's degree from UNLV is in computer science with an emphasis in mathematics and electrical engineering. He also has taken several courses toward a master's degree in business administration.
His related job experience includes working as a senior engineer for Bechtel Nevada, as a hardware and software engineer for EG & G and as president of research and development at eRoom System Technologies Inc. Seastrand said he saw the posting on UNLV's Web site and applied for the job because of its emphasis on homeland security and his own background in that field.
In his seventh year as regent, Seastrand ran unopposed for his second term in November 2004. He's active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and his family has a history of public service, his father having served as mayor of North Las Vegas.
Seastrand said he was leaving the regents position with a "sad heart," and that he would miss the people and being able to able to influence and improve the university system.
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