J. Russell Nelson

Nelson's presidency was marked by a combative tenure with the athletics department, which fell into disrepute after losing seasons and ethics scandals.

[5] However, Nelson oversaw the construction of the Karsten Golf Course and started the first efforts to bring a Super Bowl to the Phoenix area.

In 1984, work was completed on an expansion to the College of Business Administration and a new research building for the school of engineering.

Initiated in the late 1980s, the Campaign for ASU raised more than $75 million and led to the construction of a profusion of new buildings toward the end of Nelson's tenure, including an expanded Hayden Library, a second Memorial Union expansion and an additional building for the College of Architecture.

One of these buildings, the Fine Arts Center designed by Antoine Predock, was named for Nelson and his wife Bonita.