Poole fills vice chancellor position

Submitted by Debra Damron
Phone: (907) 474-7581
09/14/04

John C. "Jake"? Poole, director of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Tanana Valley Campus, has been named UAF’s vice chancellor for university advancement and community engagement. His official duties begin Sept. 19.

The appointment was made by Chancellor Steve Jones, who considers the position a critical component in further enhancing the university’s role as a center for teaching, research and service. He noted Poole’s familiarity with university departments, successes at TVC and his involvement in the community as strong reasons for the assignment.

"UAF’s new Office of Advancement and Community Engagement will enable us to more strategically and effectively connect our university to our alumni, friends, supporters and benefactors,"? Jones said. "We’re very lucky to have someone like Jake Poole in place who already knows the university extremely well. He has the experience, skills, network and community presence to lead this comprehensive unit. I am pleased that Jake is willing to tackle this critically important role."

The vice chancellor will be responsible for UAF development, alumni affairs, athletics, KUAC and university relations. The Alumni Association will remain a separate entity.

Poole has 30 years of experience in organizational operations, teaching, vocational and adult education, community affairs, alumni affairs, intercollegiate athletics and university administration. After serving as TVC’s interim director since December 1999, he was named director in September 2000. During his tenure at TVC, enrollment increased 27 percent from 2,601 in fall 1999 to 3,295 in fall 2003 and workforce-development programs, particularly in the areas of allied health and process technology, expanded. Poole also oversaw TVC’s expansion into its new location in the former courthouse last year and the opening of the Hutchison Institute of Technology this fall.

Rick Caulfield, associate dean for academic programs in UAF’s College of Rural Alaska, has been appointed interim director of TVC. Caulfield’s appointment takes effect Sept. 19. UAF will conduct a national search for a new TVC director.

From December 2001-January 2002 Poole was acting director of athletics while a nationwide search for a permanent director was underway. Since then he has been special assistant to the chancellor for athletics. He helped manage compliance issues with Title IX provisions and the establishment of a new women’s sport, swimming, which will begin competing in fall 2005. The department is currently responsible for 10 teams, including the seven-time national championship rifle team, and three major tournaments: volleyball’s Auto Service Company Nanook Classic, women’s basketball’s Mt. McKinley Bank North Star Invitational and men’s basketball’s BP Top of the World Classic.

Poole served 22 years in the U.S. Army and was post commander at Fort Wainwright from 1993-1995. After retiring from his final Army position in Belgium in 1997, he returned to Fairbanks to become the director of the UAF Alumni Association, where he oversaw an organization of some 40,000 alumni worldwide. He initiated the popular "snowshoe tours,"? which brought community members and business leaders to the campus for a first-hand look at UAF activities and programs.

Poole co-chairs the 2004 United Way campaign and serves on numerous committees and boards throughout the state, including the Fairbanks Community Food Bank Board of Directors, the BP Exploration (Alaska) Community Advisory Board, the Foraker Group Operations Board, the Fairbanks Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce University Committee. Poole is a recipient of the Golden Nugget Award from the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce in recognition of his community service and the American Red Cross Clara Barton Award for volunteer leadership.

Poole earned a bachelor of science degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 1975 and his master’s degree in education from Pepperdine University in 1978. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Armed Forces Staff College.

"I am very excited about this opportunity to lead a new organization that will strengthen UAF and our positive impact on our community,"? Poole said. "I look forward to working with our alumni, faculty, students and community members and leaders in developing a coordinated and successful program that will showcase UAF as the state of Alaska’s flagship university."?

Note to editors: A high-resolution digital photograph of Poole is available for download at http://www.uaf.edu/files/news/download/releasephotos/Poole_Jake.jpg.

Contact: Debra Damron, University Relations director, at (907) 474-7581 or fynews@uaf.edu