California Governor Gavin Newsom has nominated Scott Galloway, an entrepreneur, author, and professor, to the University of California Board of Regents. The appointment, announced Wednesday, places the vocal media personality on the 26-person board responsible for overseeing the 10-campus UC system and its approximately 300,000 students.
Galloway, an adjunct professor at NYU and a frequent commentator on business and technology, has gained a significant following for his often critical assessments of societal trends and institutions. He is a graduate of UCLA and UC Berkeley, having earned a bachelor's degree in economics from UCLA and an MBA from Berkeley.
Despite his ties to California's public universities, Galloway has been candid in his critiques of the state, particularly Los Angeles. He recently described the city as the world's "most successful failed nation state," characterizing it as a place of "peak capitalism" marked by extreme wealth alongside widespread homelessness and a culture driven by "delusion plus ambition."
His past remarks have also targeted the higher education sector itself. In March, Galloway suggested that some elite universities should lose their tax-exempt status due to practices that limit student supply and increase tuition. However, he has previously praised the UC system for its efforts to expand access through larger class sizes and extended course offerings, calling it an institution "doing God's work."
Galloway, a Democrat, has also become a prominent voice on issues concerning young men, including loneliness and isolation, topics that Governor Newsom has also prioritized. Newsom signed an executive order last year addressing rising suicide rates and disconnection among young men and boys in California.
Beyond his academic and commentary work, Galloway has founded several companies and served on the boards of various organizations, including Urban Outfitters, Panera Bread, and The New York Times. He has also made substantial donations to his alma maters, including significant contributions to UCLA and UC Berkeley.
If confirmed by the California Senate, Galloway, who resides in Florida, will join other recent appointees to the state's higher education boards. Newsom also nominated sports executive Doug Hendrickson to a seat on the California State University Board of Trustees.