GRADE A
Running for his third term, Mark Alden serves as Nevada's watchdog University Regent
BY MIKE ZIGLER

University Regent Mark Alden is a veteran in the field of higher education. He's fought tough, nasty campaigns in the past, only to surface as our state's go-to Board of Regents member. His voice is one genuinely concerned for students. 

Alden presses for tougher standards and understands the importance of ensuring a sound education for all who enroll in Nevada's higher institutions. Most importantly, he is fiscally responsible. 

These are six key components to Alden's emphasis on the Board of Regents: 

o Chair of the Finance & Budget Committee
o Voted to raise G.P.A. requirements
o Voted against Pahrump land deal
o Voted against most tuition increases
o Voted against orthodontic clinic
o First Certified Public Accountant elected to the Board

During his third term, Alden intends to accomplish three main goals: Finishing Nevada State College, making UNLV and UNR true research facilities, and reducing administrative costs at each higher education institution. 

"I want to get the state college finished for two important reasons: the cost per student is 50 percent less than UNLV and it's got an 80-percent graduation rate while more than 70 percent of UNLV students are gone by their junior year," Alden said. "I want to get the state out of funding the universities so much by slicing state funding in half. We need to move from a 48-percent funding model to a 24-percent model."

Alden was elected to the Board of Regents in 1994 and serves on the Audit and Investment Committees, as well as the ad hoc Technology Committee. Originally from Portland, Maine, Alden is a CPA who holds a B.S. in accounting and graduated with minors in political science and Nevada history from the University of Nevada at Reno.

Considering that this post is often a stepping stone to other prominent political positions, Alden's bid for a third term demonstrates he's committed to Nevada's higher education system. 

"My job is not finished," Alden said. "I'm the watchdog and I ensure that the board doesn't spend money hell-bent. I'm not a believer in wasting state money. 

"Plus, when you get something done, the job is actually fun," he continued

Now President and Chief Executive Officer of Mark Alden, CPA Ltd., he was formerly an auditor for the State of Nevada Gaming Control Board. However, his work is not solely professional. Alden is a volunteer with the Henderson Boys & Girls and is an honoree of Hispanics in Politics. Being part of the Augustus Society as a Board Member, Alden spends quite a bit of time with other organizations such as the Italian-American Club of Southern Nevada and the Latin Chamber of Commerce. He also serves as an usher at St. Viator Catholic Church.

While Alden's memberships are numerous and his service unprecedented, re-electing him to an unpaid position is exactly what Nevada's higher education system needs. Few members of the Board of Regents are as accessible and dedicated as Mark Alden. LW