UC Riverside Chancellor Tim White goes incognito for CBS' 'Undercover Boss'

On Sunday's episode of "Undercover Boss," the guy roaming the UC Riverside campus with the waxy black moustache and the wire-rimmed glasses might have a strangely familiar air.

That's because he's actually Tim White, the chancellor of the university.

For the CBS reality show that puts top executives in disguise alongside ordinary workers, White went incognito for a week earlier this spring as "Pete," a visiting staffer from a private college who comes to Riverside as a teaching assistant and coach's helper.

"It gave me an unobstructed opportunity to be part of the heartbeat of the campus," White said in an interview.

It also gave him an opportunity to be out of sorts at times, as the episode shows him fumbling with tasks such as turning on an overhead projector.

"I was very concerned about being recognized," White said. But the costume and makeup department did an effective job, he added. "I walked right next to people who I talk to on a weekly basis and sit down in my office with, and they didn't even flinch.... If they ever had any thought that it might have been me, it was the earring that deterred them from that conclusion - this one little purple earring in my left ear."

Fun as the stunt was, White says he had a serious aim in doing the show.

"The public universities here in California and across the nation are being squeezed financially for a variety of different reasons," he said. "I thought if I could learn some things about our faculty and our students and our staff and the way that this place works that allows me to be a better chancellor during our tough times as well as in our good times, then why not take advantage of that?"

He even learned a few things, such as the necessity of buying more reserve books for the science library, so students who can't afford textbooks can get in more study time. 

Ah, but didn't people realize something was up when they saw cameras following him around?

Actually, no.

"There's cameras on Southern California campuses all the time," White explained. "So that wasn't unusual."

MORE ON SHOW TRACKER:

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-Scott Collins (twitter.com/scottcollinsLAT)

Photos, from top: Tim White in disguise as "Pete"; White without disguise. Credit: Monty Brinton/CBS.

Comments

[rusoviet]

Yeah why not be what all 'Chancellors, Principals, Directors...' you fill in the blank - a 'playah' a politician...think Mike Curb (Jerry Dumphy's son-in-law) or hey our new 'Reich Kommisariat' Governor Jer-dawg (Pat Brown's) Chevrolet - in the end it makes no difference left or right - it's the same scam 'connected' but hey with a 'BIG' pension courtesy of us - fire this moron

[rusoviet]

How does a chancellor gain a 'gig' on the 'tube'? Maybe that's the question the fourth estate should be asking - typical govt. entitled slob-pig - betcha a Obamska supporter huh?

"Jack our Jack...if only....'why'?'

[James]

Wow pr to justify their high salaries at the expense of the taxpayers.

[National Pastime]

These bosses understand that all their employees in the future will see them as deeply dishonest and duplicitous for their deceit, right? They must be OK with having their employees distrust them for the rest of their tenure. I'd be curious to know how effective these starstruck clowns are after the cameras are turned off. But maybe they think being a great boss means having employees who will never again see them as honest managers.

[Bill]

Is no one a mature adult any longer?
I thought there was hope when the L.A. City Schools denied a celebrity chef the chance to do a reality show on food in the schools.
All this play acting is a continuation of the dumbing down of society. Now it is being led by the "leader" of the University of California Riverside. While at UCLA, both undergraduate and graduate school, Chancellors Murphy and Young acted like grownups and the place was well run and respected.
Goodbye to all that.

[Crocodile tears]

Is he going to patronize the "poor" professors who "only" lock in $100,000+/yr. salaries for delegating their TAs to do the legwork, or is he going to patronize the truly unfortunate "maintenance" workers i.e. the janitors, custodians, and the likes?..This guy probably makes $600,000+/yr. + "bailout" perquisites..typical UC administration management...

[H001]

I was in my second year when C. White came to UCR. He has really made an effort for himself to be accessible not only from the staff but also to the students. Each week, his "weekly friday email" has not become the stable across all UC's. He tries to be as transparent as he can in the direction of UCR and is really just trying hard to improve the status of the school. He's not there to be a "celebrity" or get his 15 minutes of fame, he probably sees this as an opportunity to understand more of whats going on when people DON'T recognize him as the chancellor.

He's doing good stuff.

[Nancy Kenow]

God Bless you for being so generous...The show Under cover boss you were in made me cry ...You helped some wonderful people !!! Thank you !!Your parents would be ...and are so proud of you !!! Tim White ...God Bless you !!!

[Raul]

Thanks Nancy, my grandparents would have been extremely proud and vindicated in their decision to emigrate from Argentina (a decision that was not made very easily) to see the family pursue our own version of "The American Dream".

[SL]

Shame on you cynics, you don't know the Chancellor's motivation. The Chancellor is a good man, who works hard and actually cares about the University, the students, faculty,staff and community.

What you saw on TV (if you even watched) is what you get( less the bubbling that was not real).

[hessamoddin]

I hate when people judge something without knwoing anything about it. I am a grad student in UC Riverside, and I am very proud to have such a great kind-heated chancellor. He is a great person and is doing his best to keep university in progress. He is not responsible for financial crisis and clearly as seen in the episode -which most of you didnt watch- is very disappointed for the increase in tuition.
I dont forget my first day in UCR as hw walked toward us and told me "Shine here".