August 15, 2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Suzanne Ernst (702) 889-8426

Board of Regents Selects Romesburg as New President of Nevada State College

RENO, Nevada-The Board of Regents voted today to select Dr. Kerry Romesburg as the next president of Nevada State College.

"We are extremely pleased to welcome aboard such a talented and enthusiastic individual as Dr. Romesburg," said Regent Douglas Seastrand, chair of the Board of Regents. "Based on his past experience and success in developing a four-year state college, it is apparent Dr. Romesburg is fully prepared for the challenges that lie ahead as Nevada State College opens its doors this fall."

Most recently, Dr. Romesburg was the president of Utah Valley State College in Orem, Utah. In his 14 years in this role, he helped transform Utah Valley from a two-year community college to a four-year state college, as well as helped increase enrollments by 300 percent. He previously served as executive director of the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education and the Alaska Student Loan Corporation.

Dr. Romesburg holds a Ph.D. in higher education administration and both an M.A. and a B.A. in mathematics/education, all from Arizona State University.

At its July 30th meeting, the ad hoc Nevada State College Presidential Search Committee, consisting of a five-member Regents' committee and a 21-member institutional advisory committee, selected Dr. Romesburg as its choice to bring before the Board. Members of the Regents committee included Chair Mark Alden and Regents Jill Derby, Thalia Dondero, Dorothy Gallagher and Seastrand.

Dr. Christine Chairsell was appointed by the Board of Regents on March 7 to serve as acting president. Once Dr. Romesburg assumes his new responsibilities, Dr. Chairsell will return to her position as associate vice chancellor for academic and student affairs for the UCCSN.

Nevada State College is the newest public, four-year, baccalaureate degree offering college in Nevada. The core curriculum will be aimed at meeting current critical shortages of qualified teachers and nurses in Nevada, as well as offering a strong liberal arts program.

The Nevada Board of Regents is the elected, 11-member governing body for the University and Community College System of Nevada. Comprising two doctoral granting universities, a state college, four comprehensive community colleges and one internationally acclaimed research institute, the UCCSN 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 nearly 100,000 students.

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