Contrarian podcaster and NYU professor’s board of regents selection defended by UTA’s Jay Sures: ‘Unafraid to piss people off’

California Governor Gavin Newsom’s selection of Scott Galloway — author, NYU Stern marketing professor and superstar podcaster who co-hosts “Pivot” with Kara Swisher, along with the “Prof G Markets” podcast — as the newest member of the University of California Board of Regents injects high-profile contrarianism into the 26-member group that governs California’s famed public university system. 

It’s somewhat unclear how Galloway, who has degrees from both UCLA and UC Berkeley, will fit into the current political makeup of the board, which has been dragged into a variety of culture wars over the past decade.

The 61-year old Galloway has said that he considers himself a centrist Democrat, but he makes a habit of staking out contrarian positions on everything from Ketamine therapy to big tech monopolies and the role alcohol consumption plays in remedying youth isolation. 

To get a better sense of how this might play out, Page Six Hollywood reached out to UTA Vice Chairman Jay Sures, who is also a member of the UC Board of Regents, to get his thoughts on Galloway and the state of the board. 

“That’s hard to answer,” Sures said when asked to characterize the political makeup of the Board of Regents. “Because I don’t know everyone’s political leanings. I do know that the University of California is an incredible institution, but it faces enormous challenges in the coming five to ten years, and what we need are smart people who understand how business and enterprises are run to provide oversight. Scott fits that bill just about perfectly.” 

Sures, who is Jewish, has frequently spoken out in support of Israel since the Oct. 7, 2023 terrorist attacks and has openly criticized certain student groups over the past three years for what he and many others deemed to be antisemitic behavior and rhetoric. Sures says he is more of an acquaintance than a friend of Galloway’s. 

“His podcasts are incredible and he is one of the most articulate guys talking about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I admire that he is unafraid to piss people off and that is the type of regent we need on the board.”