Arizona Board of Regents commemorates service of Regent Fred DuVal

The Arizona Board of Regents today commemorated the service of Regent Fred DuVal, whose leadership spanned two tenures and a transformative period for Arizona’s public university system. His service bridged nearly two decades of change, offering continuity and perspective as the system expanded enrollment, research capacity and its role in Arizona’s economy.

First appointed in 2006 by then Gov. Janet Napolitano, Regent DuVal served until 2012 before returning for a second term in 2018 following his appointment by former Gov. Doug Ducey. He is the first regent in Arizona appointed by governors of both parties.

Across both terms, Regent DuVal consistently emphasized aligning higher education with Arizona’s long-term needs. He elevated the role of public-private collaboration, particularly in life sciences, biomedicine and emerging technologies. His leadership reinforced the belief that Arizona’s public universities are essential partners in economic development, discovery and problem solving on behalf of the state.

“Regent DuVal’s commitment to Arizona has been lifelong and deeply personal,” said ABOR Chair Doug Goodyear. “Throughout his service he brought a clear sense of purpose to the board’s work and a strong belief in the role our universities play in shaping the state’s future. Arizona is stronger because of his service.”

Regent DuVal was the visionary behind the Arizona Teachers Academy, advancing a statewide strategy to address teacher shortages by eliminating financial barriers to the profession. He championed a model that covers tuition and fees for future teachers who commit to serving Arizona’s public schools, reflecting his belief that the state must invest directly in the educators who serve its communities. Today, the academy prepares teachers across Arizona’s public universities and community colleges, allowing graduates to enter the classroom without student debt while strengthening the state’s education workforce.

“In Arizona, we know how to work across party lines and get things done for the people we serve. Few have a stronger record of doing that than Fred DuVal,” said former Gov. Ducey. “I was proud to work together with him to launch and expand the Arizona Teachers Academy, which has helped thousands of students graduate and enter Arizona classrooms without student debt. Arizona is grateful for his decades of public service and leadership on the Arizona Board of Regents.”

Regent DuVal played a key role in advancing initiatives to accelerate innovation and broaden the impact of university research. Among them was the launch of the Regents’ Research and Community Grants program, which connects faculty expertise with public agencies and community organizations to address challenges facing Arizona. Since its inception in 2022, the program has supported projects focused on public health, agriculture, forestry, environmental sustainability, infrastructure and public safety.

He also was a driving force behind AZ Healthy Tomorrow, a systemwide effort launched in 2023 to expand Arizona’s health care workforce and in‑state training capacity. Since the initiative began, the board has approved 48 new academic programs or organizational units across the three public universities, strengthening the state’s medical and health education infrastructure. That work supported the launch of the John Shufeldt School of Medicine and Medical Engineering at Arizona State University and prioritized the establishment of the Maria and Steve Sanghi College of Nursing at Northern Arizona University. It also helped drive expansion of the University of Arizona’s academic medicine enterprise, including larger medical school class sizes in Tucson and Phoenix and a new accelerated primary care pathway in Yuma, increasing annual medical student enrollment from 200 to 305 students.

During Regent DuVal’s time on the board, Arizona’s public universities underwent substantial change. He prioritized financial aid reform and helped lead the redesign of the state funding model for public higher education, shifting it toward performance outcomes and graduation rates. Over this period, the system educated more students, expanded research activity and strengthened partnerships with industry, government and communities across the state. 

Undergraduate enrollment across the three universities increased from about 83,000 students in 2006 to more than 190,000 today, an increase of roughly 129 percent. Graduate enrollment more than doubled during the same period, rising from about 24,500 students to more than 51,000, an increase of approximately 110 percent. 

The number of degrees awarded each year by Arizona’s public universities grew at a similar pace. Bachelor’s degree completions more than doubled, rising from about 15,900 in 2006 to nearly 36,800 today, an increase of 131 percent. Graduate degree completions grew from about 7,000 to more than 19,300 annually, an increase of roughly 177 percent.

Research activity across the system expanded substantially during this period. Annual research expenditures grew from approximately $765 million in 2006 to more than $2.1 billion today, a gain of 176 percent. This growth reflects the universities’ expanding role as drivers of innovation, discovery and economic development for the state. 

That momentum extended to technology transfer and commercialization outcomes. Since 2006, invention disclosures more than doubled, patent applications more than tripled, U.S. patents issued increased more than sixfold and the number of startups launched at the universities nearly tripled. Licensing activity and income also grew significantly as research moved more consistently from the lab to the marketplace.

His commitment to higher education was shaped by a deep personal connection. Regent DuVal’s father, Dr. Merlin “Monte” DuVal, moved to Arizona in 1963 as the founding dean of the U of A’s College of Medicine, establishing a family legacy rooted in academic excellence and public service. That history informed Regent DuVal’s belief in the responsibility of universities to expand opportunity, improve outcomes for residents and strengthen communities statewide.

“Having worked closely with Regent DuVal for many years, what always stood out was his willingness to challenge assumptions and ask whether we were truly doing enough for Arizona,” said ABOR Executive Director Chad Sampson. “He consistently pushed the board, the universities and those of us supporting the system to think bigger, move faster and not be satisfied with how things had always been done. His leadership helped shape our universities to be more responsive to the needs of the state and better prepared for what comes next.”