Jay Silveria on Leadership & the Future of the UA System

Silveria served in the U.S. Air Force for 35 years as a combat fighter pilot and commanded a fighter wing, an air operation center and a fighter squadron. He was awarded a Distinguished Service Medal and is a Bronze Star recipient. (Jason Burt)

What are your top priorities as president of the system?

Because I was hired and entrusted to do this job by the board of trustees of the University of Arkansas as a true outsider to this state, my No. 1 priority has been to familiarize myself not only with the people in the UA System administration building, but also traveling to all corners of this state, meeting the chancellors and directors at all 21 campuses, divisions and units and their communities and getting the lay of the land. I’m all in on listening and learning and that will remain a top priority.

During those initial visits, there were priorities that were important to me going in that I’ve been pleasantly surprised are already being met. For example, I think it’s necessary that institutions are a reflection of — and heavily ingrained within — the communities they serve, especially with our two-year campuses. And although I’ve been amazed by how true that already is at many of our campuses, I think there are additional ways we can be in tune with our audiences and communities to ensure we’re meeting the unique needs of those regions throughout the state. I’d also like to find ways to think creatively about our deferred maintenance situation, especially moving forward to incorporate innovative ideas that address this on future infrastructure projects before plans to break ground are approved.

Perhaps most importantly, I think we can do a lot more to tell the story of our successes as the state’s largest higher education system. It’s been overwhelming to learn about the wide range of lives we change. For instance, we have everything from a nationally renowned high school all the way up through medical degrees. We also have an agricultural and research impact in every county in the state doing work ranging from high-tech drone surveying to specified soil testing. We have custom-built manufacturing and workforce training for specific industries and companies, along with many other programs that are designed to provide opportunities for any audience. Many people don’t realize what all is under the UA System umbrella and all the ways we can impact lives and the economy in this state, and I’d like for Arkansans to hear “UA System” and immediately know the breadth of impact we are all working to achieve.

What is the importance of a public college education?

The first thing to recognize is that the relevance of college education is constantly changing and evolving. It’s up to us to ensure the investment in a college education carries the intended impact of improving lives and communities. We’ve done a wonderful job of that and have the infrastructure in place to ensure we’re meeting the needs of society and the workplace and are continuously fine-tuning these efforts. The overarching mission is to set a solid foundation for creating lifelong learners who are making positive impacts where they live and beyond.

Generally, I’ve always been an ardent supporter of public college education. I’ve personally felt the effects of having trained and learned at the U.S. Air Force Academy and beyond in my career, and my wife and sons are also set up for successful careers due to earning college degrees. Because seeing is believing, aside from being a supporter and believer in the transformative power of higher education, I’m now most inclined to ensure that opportunities are accessible to anyone who wants to take advantage of them.

What is your leadership style?

Spending a substantial portion of my career in the military, I’ve experienced about every style of leadership imaginable, and I know what helped me reach my potential and what might’ve held me back. I believe the most effective style of leadership is allowing yourself to become a traffic director, ensuring things get routed the right direction, that people have the resources and freedom to be successful in their jobs, and realizing it’s up to me to know when to step in and take corrective action.

I’d much rather be the guy having to tell someone to “pump the brakes” rather than being the guy to have to say, “hit the gas.” Being open, accessible and collaborative is my preferred choice.

What is your most memorable moment in a fighter jet?

In the 1990s I was flying the F-15E over the Balkans. Two aircraft had been shot down in that particular conflict, so we were sent to attack the air defense system that was defending the enemy areas to make it safer for our aircraft. Armed with a specialized weapon, we attacked the system and made it possible for the other aircraft to enter the area. With so many others counting on the result, and despite the added risk in taking on a system designed to shoot back, we were successful in our mission. I was proud to make such an important contribution.

It’s a reminder that no matter the circumstances, if everyone does their part, success is attainable.

What’s the best advice you’ve received?

The old phrase, “You’re either missing something or you’re getting something wrong” comes to mind.

The key is to figure out what you’re missing before rushing to any kind of decision or conclusion. Also, as a baseball fan, I remember that Tommy Lasorda once said, “No matter how good you are, you’re going to lose one-third of your games. No matter how bad you are, you’re going to win one-third of your games. It’s the other third that makes the difference.”

No matter how good or bad you might be, you’re always going to have setbacks and moments of glory. The idea is to make sure you’re doing all you can do during the other one-third of the time that counts.