Local man named Claremont president

Calabasas resident Robert Klitgaard, a leading figure in policy research and international studies, has been elected president of Claremont Graduate University by the board of trustees. He will assume the presidency on July 1.

Klitgaard comes to Claremont from the Pardee Rand Graduate School in Santa Monica, where he has been dean and Ford Distinguished Professor of International Development and Security since 1997. He succeeds Steadman Upham, who became president of the University of Tulsa in July 2004.

"I’m delighted to join an institution that believes so strongly in academic excellence that makes a difference in our world," Klitgaard said.

Klitgaard has been an adviser to many governments as well as to numerous international agencies and foundations. One of his specialties is government reform, and the Christian Science Monitor called him "the world’s leading expert on corruption." His eight books include the just-released "High-Performance Government: Structure, Leadership, Incentives" (edited with Paul C. Light) and "Tropical Gangsters," named one of the New York Times’ "books of the century."

After growing up in California, Klitgaard received his education at Harvard University, earning a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a master’s and Ph.D. in public policy.