Las Vegas -- During a special meeting of Nevada's Board of Regents today, Dr. Tom Anderes was unanimously appointed to serve as the interim chancellor for the University and Community College System of Nevada.

Anderes, who previously served as the vice chancellor for finance and planning for the past five years, will begin his new responsibilities starting August 1.

Dr. Richard Jarvis, the UCCSN's fifth Chancellor who has lead the system since 1994, recently submitted his resignation to the Board in order to take a position as the founding chancellor of the United States Open University.

"Dr. Anderes is an outstanding individual who has always displayed a tremendous amount of professionalism and a high level of competence during his time with System Administration," said Board Chair Dr. Jill Derby. "He will make an excellent interim chancellor and will play a crucial role in preparing the UCCSN for the 21st century."

Before joining the UCCSN in September of 1994, Dr. Anderes served as deputy commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Higher Education. He has also served as deputy vice president for finance at the University of Wyoming and held positions in finance and administration at Arizona State University, the University of Connecticut and in the Governor's Budget Office, State of Arizona.

He holds a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in public administration from the University of Arizona. His doctorate is in higher education administration from the University of Connecticut.

Comprised of two doctoral-granting universities, four comprehensive community colleges and one environmental research institution, the University and Community College System of Nevada serves the educational and job training needs of the nation's fastest growing state. As Nevada's only system of higher education, the UCCSN provides educational opportunities to more than 82,000 students.