The man named interim president of the University at Buffalo is a former Hollywood honcho turned higher-education consultant, who rose to a leadership role at the largest academic institution in the State University of New York system despite earning just a four-year degree.

But the lack of academic credentials isn't the only thing bothering some in the university community about the appointment of Scott D. Nostaja.

Nostaja's commute to California, which he still calls home, also raises questions, as does the way UB decided on the interim appointment, which still requires SUNY's blessing.

Last week, when UB President John B. Simpson announced on the first day of school that he will retire Jan. 15, Nostaja, a senior vice president and one of the highest-paid UB officials, was named to fill in until a successor is found.

The chain of events not only surprised, but also angered many at UB, where credibility is all about advanced degrees, published papers and scholarly research -- particularly when it involves the institution's president.

Nostaja has only a bachelor's degree in political science from California State University, Northridge.

"I like Scott, but that's not the point," said Paul Zarembka, an economics professor and union grievance officer for UB faculty. "He has no academic qualifications to be in that position. Ordinarily you would put in the provost, or vice president of the medical school."

The Buffalo News spoke with several members of the UB community who expressed the same sentiments, but asked that their names not be used.

Robert G. Hoeing, an associate linguistics professor and chairman of the faculty senate, said he, too, has heard numerous complaints across campus, and agreed that the appointment undermines the academic excellence UB has been promoting.

"It does not matter whether a person holds the position of university president for 20 years or 20 minutes," Hoeing wrote in a letter to faculty. "[He or she] must be qualified to execute all the powers and duties of that important office."

Vows to push UB 2020

Nostaja -- pronounced nost-I-ya -- acknowledges concerns about his academic qualifications, but says he can do the job.

As one of the key figures shaping UB 2020 -- UB's ambitious growth plan -- he would continue to push that agenda after Simpson's departure.

"I know that's why I was [appointed] -- to continue the forward momentum on UB 2020 and find new ways to do it," Nostaja said.

Nostaja, 50, said he has a lot invested in UB 2020 and will serve the university for as long as he is asked.

"We have a great provost, great faculty and really strong academic leadership. It's not as if the campus is void of that," Nostaja said. "My job is to support the faculty and give them the tools and resources they need."

After graduating from college in 1985, Nostaja worked his way up in the entertainment industry. He started as a representative in the entertainment union, then went on to work at CBS, Sony Pictures and Universal Studios, where at the age of 30, he was senior vice president for human resources and Universal's youngest studio executive.

Nostaja was recruited by Anderson Consulting, where he helped companies better manage their businesses. He left to start his own company, AVCOR Consulting, and found a niche helping colleges improve operations in the face of dwindling public funding.

One of his clients was University of California, Santa Cruz, where Simpson was the No. 2 official at the time. When Simpson came to Buffalo, he brought Nostaja as a consultant in January 2004 to help plot a vision for UB.

Nostaja spent more and more time in Buffalo, and Simpson asked him to join his leadership team. He came aboard in April 2006 and gradually phased out his clients and employees.

He first served as a special assistant to the president and took over the human resources department, which received national recognition for transforming operations at UB.

As Simpson's chief of staff, his fingerprints are all over UB 2020. In May, he was named senior vice president and chief operations officer, a job that earns him roughly $300,000 a year.

Some who have worked with Nostaja say they think he is a fine choice as interim president, despite his lack of academic credentials.

"He brings some other skills to filling that role," said John M. Thomas, a professor of operations and management and the former dean of the UB School of Management.

"I would say he's probably not a candidate for president," Thomas said, "but I think he's someone who would be a good interim choice to continue to move us forward, given we have a lot of problems with the budget."

Others on campus strongly disagree.

"It's not a personal thing. I think Scott is a very capable consultant and business person," said Jose F. Buscaglia, an associate UB professor and director of the Caribbean Studies Program. "But I don't think he's the type of person the university needs at this moment in terms of the fiscal crisis of the state and internal structural problems the university is facing."

Requirements in bylaws

Simpson's reasons for retiring include frustration over the state government's refusal to enact reforms that would help UB fund its vision of growing into one of the nation's top public research universities.

He and Jeremy M. Jacobs, UB Council chairman, had been discussing the possibility of retirement for several weeks, and Simpson informed the entire UB Council of his plans last Monday. The council met privately to discuss an interim president, and Jacobs appointed Nostaja.

But SUNY bylaws require the council to consult with SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher and members of the faculty before making a presidential appointment, Hoeing said.

Neither was done, Hoeing said, which he called "inexcusable."

"This may be the way it is done at Universal Studios, where Mr. Nostaja was a vice president," said Jim Holstun, a UB professor of English, "but in the State University of New York, this appointment is a responsibility reserved for the SUNY board of trustees."

Simpson and Jacobs declined to answer questions after Monday's announcement.

SUNY, too, has said little about the situation, other than releasing a prepared statement from Zimpher, who will discuss Simpson's departure with the SUNY board and UB Council.

"This includes, among other things, the appointment of an interim leader and the search for a new president at the University at Buffalo," Zimpher said.

UB acknowledges Nostaja's appointment must be confirmed by the SUNY board, which is scheduled to meet Sept. 15 in Albany.

"The policy and procedure is for the campus council to recommend and the chancellor and trustees to approve," said Joseph A. Brennan, associate vice president for communications. "That's the procedure we're following here. We have no indication Scott's appointment will not be confirmed."

Nostaja said he also was not expecting a problem.

Residence changes

An avid runner who has participated in eight marathons, the Southern California native has become fond of Buffalo and a fan of its many restaurants.

But when he first came to UB, Nostaja didn't want to uproot his family, so his wife, Ramona, and son, Brian, now a college freshman, have remained in Los Angeles.

Nostaja lived at the Residence Inn near the UB North Campus in Amherst during the week and commuted to California to visit his family on weekends. He said he paid travel costs out of his own pocket.

The commute, however, has raised questions on campus: Is that proper for the university president?

Nostaja said he moved into an apartment in East Amherst earlier this year, and while he hasn't quite figured out all of the logistics, a California commute will not be an issue.

"I am going to live in the Buffalo area full time when I become interim," Nostaja said.

jrey@buffnews.comnull