The University of Texas at Arlington

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

The University of Texas at Arlington (2004 - Present)

President
Professor of Communication
Professor of Public Affairs

Appointed by The University of Texas System Board of Regents on Nov. 19, 2003, and assumed office on Feb. 1, 2004.  As the university’s seventh president, has focused on building and strengthening internal and external partnerships and instilling “Maverick Pride” among the students, faculty, staff, and alumni of UT Arlington.  During his administration, the university has:

• Aggressively pursued the strategic effort to position The University of Texas at Arlington as a major research university within the state.  In the past decade, research expenditures have tripled to more than $70 million.
• Increased investments in faculty recruitment and retention, creating more than 100 new faculty positions and establishing numerous endowed chairs and professorships.
• Increased student enrollment from approximately 25,000 students in fall 2004 to more than 33,200 students in fall 2012.
• Initiated the construction or renovation of more than a dozen buildings and added more than 1.5 million square feet to the physical plant in the past five years.  Major new buildings include the Engineering and Science Research Complex and the 20.5 acre College Park District, which includes parking structures, residence hall, student apartments, university welcome center, retail space, and a 7,000 seat special events center.
• Developed a culture that values and promotes diversity, with UT Arlington repeatedly named one of the most diverse institutions in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.  In fall 2012, the student population reflected 19 percent Hispanic, 14.5 percent African-American, 10.2 percent Asian, and 10 percent international.
• Created residential campus by opening new residence halls and apartments, resulting in 5,300 students living on campus.
• Increased private giving to the University from $5.8 million in 2005 to more than $23.2 million in 2012.

Michigan State University (1996 - 2004)

Dean, College of Communication Arts and Sciences
Professor, School of Journalism

Chief academic officer of the College, overseeing five departments (Advertising, Audiology and Speech Sciences, Communication, Journalism, and Telecommunication) with more than 100 faculty and staff, 3,500 undergraduates and 400 graduate students and an annual budget in excess of $10 million.  Undergraduate student enrollment increased by more than 1,000 from 1996-2003.

• Fostered more collaborative environment to support new interdisciplinary programs and activities in one of country’s most distinguished colleges of communications.
• Established prestigious James H. and Mary B. Quello Center for Telecommunication Management and Law by raising more than $3.5 million and recruiting two highly-respected scholars to launch the Center.
• Forged innovative partnership with highly-respected newspaper corporation in Mexico (Grupo Reforma), providing internships in Mexico, extended visits to the MSU campus for Mexican journalists and an annual lecture series on North American Journalism.
• Developed distinctive undergraduate specialization in Public Relations for students majoring in Advertising, Communication and Journalism.
• Greatly enhanced alumni outreach and development efforts resulting in private financial support and enhanced visibility for the college’s substantial growth.

John S. and James L. Knight Foundation (1989-1996)

The largest media-related private foundation in the United States, currently with more than $1.5 billion in assets.

Vice President and Chief Program Officer

Responsible for overseeing grant-making totaling more than $35 million annually in four program areas: (1) Community Initiatives, (2)  Journalism, (3) Arts and Culture, and (4) Education.

• Along with the president, relocated Foundation offices from Akron, Ohio to Miami, Florida and hired 12 new staff members.
• Played key role in developing the Foundation’s strategic plan leading to more proactive approach to grant-making, including new initiatives in all programs.
• Directly responsible for Journalism grants and initiatives for four years in addition to other duties until new full-time Journalism Program Officer was added to the staff in 1993.

Knight-Ridder, Inc. (1977-1989)

DETROIT FREE PRESS

A major metropolitan daily newspaper with 2,000 employees.

Vice President, Human Resources (1985-1989)
Assistant to the Publisher

• Responsible for employment, compensation and benefits, training and development, quality circles, communications, safety, security, employee health programs and legal affairs.  Headed department during critical period when Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) to merge non-editorial operations of the Detroit Free Press and the Detroit News was pending.
• Instituted programs to support workforce viability efforts, including key employee retention, employee assistance, and stress reduction.
• Played a major role in developing human resource plan to implement the JOA, including employee selection process and benefits programs for the merged company and severance package for displaced employees.
• Planned and directed major career transition project to assist employees of the two newspapers who would be displaced by JOA.
• Assisted Publisher on a wide-range of activities and strategies.

THE MIAMI HERALD

A major metropolitan daily newspaper with more than 2,000 employees.

General Executive (1983-1985)

• Selected for Knight-Ridder’s executive development program to obtain “hands-on” experience in all phases of newspaper management and operations.
• As principal staff person, led a task force of community leaders that planning improvements in Greater Miami’s image and quality of life; directed research and prepared the approved action plan.
• Provided full-time staff support for Greater Miami’s Chamber of Commerce Blue Ribbon Committee and Cuban Immigration (chaired by the President of Knight-Ridder), which pursued supplement federal funding for South Florida.

General Counsel (1979-1983)

• Responsible for all legal matters including selecting, supervising and coordinating outside counsel; provided counsel to all departments and reviewed articles for libel, privacy, and other First Amendment issues.
• Became trusted advisor to the General Manager and Executive Editor.
• Provided training seminars for reporters and editors regarding libel and First Amendment issues.
• Conducted major review and critique of newsroom attitudes, practices and policies that contributed to more positive relationships with readers and the community.

AMERICAN NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION (ANPA), Washington, D.C. 1978-1979

The National trade association representing most daily newspapers.

Associate General Counsel

• Managed in-house legal department; advised officers and ANPA board on legal and government actions affecting the 1,300 member newspapers.
• Organized the first in-house legal department for ANPA.
• Forged more cooperative relationship and coalitions with other media and press associations.

THE MIAMI HERALD (1977 - 1978)

Staff Counsel

• Established first in-house legal department at a Knight-Ridder newspaper, lessening reliance on outside counsel and substantially reducing outside legal fees.

Paul & Thomson, Miami, Florida (1975 - 1977)

Attorney

• Handled variety of cases including libel and First Amendment.

Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan (1970 - 1972)

Assistant to the President

• Wrote speeches, acted as liaison with students and other groups, coordinated special events, assisted with press relations and served as recording secretary for the President's Executive Group.

Governor's Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, Lansing, Michigan (1969 - 1970)

Public Information Officer

EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATION

1975 J.D., The University of Michigan Law School

1975 MPA, Public Administration, The University of Michigan

1968 BA, Political Science, Magna Cum Laude, Michigan State University

Editor-in-Chief of campus daily newspaper (State News)

Member of the Florida Bar; Admitted to practice before U.S. Supreme Court, 5^th and 11^th Circuits, and United States District Court – Southern District of Florida.

PROFESSIONAL AND CIVIC ACTIVITIES (current)

Arlington Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee

Arlington Tomorrow Foundation board member

Center for Innovation – Arlington board member

Commission of Colleges, Texas delegation (member)

Dallas Regional Chamber board member, University CEO Council Chair

Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce board member

North Texas Commission board member

North Texas Leaders and Executive Advocating Diversity (LEAD) board member

Van Cliburn Foundation board member

PROFESSIONAL AND CIVIC ACTIVITIES (1997-2004)

Journalism Advisory Board, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation

Accrediting Committee, Accrediting Council on Education and Journalism and Mass Communication

Chairperson of visiting site teams for reaccreditations (under auspices of the Accrediting Council on Education and Journalism and Mass Communication) at Northwestern University, University of California (Berkeley), University of Illinois, Indiana University, and Florida International University (1999-2003)

National Board of Directors, MSU Alumni Association

Board of Directors, the State News, the independent (and separately incorporated) student daily newspaper at Michigan State University

Board of Directors, the University Club at Michigan State University

Board of Directors, Estate Planning and Wealth Strategies Institute at Michigan State University

Chairperson, Media Board for Ready to Succeed Early Childhood Initiative (statewide)

Delegation of Deans of Journalism and Mass Communication visiting Cuba to explore development of faculty and student exchange programs (January 2001)

PROFESSIONAL AND CIVIC ACTIVITIES (1975 - 1996)

Board of Directors, Miami Donors Forum

Board of Directors, Westminster Christian School

Public Information and Education Committee, Independent Sector

Chairman, Miami Christian Leadership Prayer Breakfast

Vice Chairman, Legal Affairs Committee, ANPA and member of join task force on press/bar relations with the American Bar Association

Lecturer, Annual Communications Law Seminar, The Practicing Law Institute, New York

Commencement speaker, College of Communications, University of Miami

Member, Michigan Governor’s Commission on Higher Education

Chairperson, Advisory Board, Detroit Public Education Fund

INSTRUCTION

Taught courses on First Amendment and Communications Law.  Courses have included: 1) “The First Amendment in the 21^st Century (freshman seminar); 2) First Amendment writing and advocacy (Honors Seminar); 3) Law and Public Policy of the Media (Ph.D. seminar)

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

"Balancing college costs against financial realities," The Dallas Morning News, August 19, 2012

“North Texas is stronger together,” The Dallas Morning News, March 30, 2012

“College degrees as important as ever,” Star-Telegram, July 5, 2011

“The economic impact of Texas research universities,” The Dallas Morning News, March 1, 2011

“Downtown blossoms at last,” Star-Telegram, October 11, 2010

“Lawmakers put us on the road,” The Dallas Morning News, June 4, 2009

“Texas must commit to investment in research universities,” Fort Worth Business Press, March 23, 2009

“Transforming the University of Texas at Arlington,” Fort Worth Business Press, September 22, 2008

“A Partner, Not a Dragon,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram, November 21, 2005

“Worthwhile Investment,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram, December 19, 2004

“U.S., Cuba Must Start Anew,” Detroit Free Press, February 1, 2001

“Renewed Sense of American Unity Shines,”Detroit Free Press, October 29, 2001

“The Solemn Obligation of Being Deputized,” The American Editor, November-December 2002.

AWARDS

The Arlington Chamber of Commerce STAR Award, annual recognition of a community leader (2012)

Sally Kallam Award for support of Leadership Arlington and growth of leaders in the community (2010)

Silver Eagle Award from the Boy Scouts of America for service to the Arlington community (2009)

Scoffes Award to the MSU faculty member who demonstrated a sustained commitment to the academic success of the MSU Football program (2001)

MILITARY SERVICE

U.S. Army Reserves, Specialist IV, Medical Corpsman (1968-1974). Honorable discharge.