FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Suzanne Ernst (702) 889-8426

Chairsell Tapped as State College Acting President

RENO, Nev.-The Nevada Board of Regents today selected Dr. Christine Chairsell to serve as the acting president of Nevada State College at Henderson.

After Dr. Richard Moore, NSCH founding president, submitted his request to be reassigned to the classroom two weeks ago, Dondero and Dr. Jane Nichols, chancellor of the University and Community College System of Nevada, worked closely to select a top candidate for the acting presidency.

"Nevada's first state college is in a crucial stage in its development," said Dondero. "Everyone we spoke to agreed that we needed an individual who had outstanding management skills, knew the community, and could immediately begin providing the leadership needed for the opening of this new college."

Chairsell will take the helm of the college after her appointment is approved by the Board and will serve as acting president until a Regent-appointed committee completes the search process to recruit and hire a new president. On average, presidential searches take six months to complete.

"From her military service, to her senior management experience at the Community College of Southern Nevada, Chris Chairsell has the academic background and the deep roots in Southern Nevada we need to get this college ready to open this fall," said Nichols.

Chairsell currently serves as the associate vice chancellor for academic and student affairs for the UCCSN where she is responsible for providing leadership in academic, workforce development and student services issues associated with Nevada higher education. She has also played a key support role in the development of Nevada State College and serves as the state director for community colleges.

Prior to joining the UCCSN in June 2000, Chairsell was the provost and associate vice president for computing services and academic affairs for the Community College of Southern Nevada. From 1997 until June 2000, she served as provost of CCSN's Charleston Campus where she supervised operations and management of campus facilities and the Summerlin High-Tech Center.

From 1995 to 1997, Chairsell was CCSN's dean of special programs where she created the college's Distance Education Program in partnership with KLVX Channel 10, the Clark County School District and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Prior to CCSN, she worked from 1991 to 1995 at UNLV as the university's director for the Office of Energy/Environmental Education. There, on behalf of UNLV and the Nevada State Governor's Office, she established a community network for corporate and educational professionals in order to coordinate and facilitate education efforts throughout the state.

Chairsell has previous experience as a political science adjunct faculty member at both UNLV and CCSN. She served as a political intern for U.S. Sen. Harry Reid in 1983 and previously served in the U.S. Air Force from 1970 to 1978.

Chairsell earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership, a master's degree in American Government-Public Policy and a bachelor's degree in American Government from UNLV.

For more biographical information on Dr. Christine Chairsell, please contact UCCSN External Relations at (702) 889-8426 or visit the UCCSN online at www.nevada.edu.

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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