Richard S. Jarvis, who visits San Jose State on Thursday, has proved he's not afraid to take on a daunting task. In recent years, he has led a start-up online university that failed for lack of funding and led a large university system battered by budget cuts.

As he does every term, Jarvis still teaches one course, most recently a night class in beginning geography at Portland State University. ``If you want to learn your community, go teach a freshman night class,'' he said. ``That's where you will learn what the people in your town are interested in and upset about.''

People who have known Jarvis at various points in his career offer consistent descriptions: Exceedingly bright. A good listener. Personable and articulate with a self-deprecating sense of humor. Open and collaborative but not afraid to take a stand.

Jarvis was born in England and spent part of his childhood in Barbados, an island in the British West Indies. He earned his doctorate in geography at England's Cambridge University.

He came to the United States for a one-year teaching position at the State University of New York at Buffalo, which sounded ``exotic and western'' to the young Englishman. He stayed at Buffalo for more than a decade. Along the way, he discovered he enjoyed administration.

Steady promotions carried him to the head office of the SUNY system, where he oversaw academic programs and research as vice provost, then acting provost.

In 1994, the University and Community College System of Nevada hired Jarvis as chancellor. During five years there, he raised the political profile of the chancellor's job. He worked actively with the Legislature and became the first chancellor to sit on the governor's Cabinet. His efforts paid off in a more favorable set of funding formulas.

``He helped convince people in the Legislature and executive branch that we needed to move up the priority list,'' said Jim Richardson, a University of Nevada-Reno sociology professor who lobbies for the statewide Faculty Alliance.

In 1999, Jarvis left Reno to become the founding chancellor of the United States Open University, an online university affiliated with the well-established British Open University.

``He represented the best from the traditional university, but he also had the imagination and creativity we absolutely had to have as we fought to bring together this innovative institution,'' said Carolynn Reid-Wallace, a longtime college president who served on the board.

Three years later, Jarvis accepted the top university job in Oregon. The state's higher education board was looking for a dynamic leader who could focus public attention on the pressing needs of higher education. Faced with repeated funding reductions, Jarvis and his board raised tuition five times in less than two years.

Jarvis was a strong advocate for students, arguing for more student aid and funding for instruction, said Grattan Kerans, a former legislator who directs the system's governmental relations. ``No one could have done better,'' Kerans said, ``and most would have done worse.''

``He did a good job managing the institutions despite this hurricane,'' said another former board member, Kerry Barnett. ``Richard always conducted himself with integrity, honesty, openness and good humor. He is battle-tested.''