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Jones selected to lead Urbana University

Submitted by Carla Browning
Phone: 907-474-7778
05/05/08

University of Alaska Fairbanks Chancellor Steve Jones has been named the 21st president of Urbana University. Founded in 1850, Urbana is a liberal arts university on a 128-acre campus in Urbana, Ohio.

Jones, citing his desire to be closer to family, announced in March that he planned to pursue other opportunities. He announced his new position today in an e-mail to students and staff and faculty members.

"Judy and I have lived ’wide,’ serving across 35 years at six universities and in private industry, a career and life shaped and enriched by nine interstate moves and the life/work experiences provided by each pause,"� said Jones. "We are now ready to live ’deep,’ devoting ourselves over the long haul to a university that combines my love for the private sector with my passion for higher education, in a location within easy driving distance of our family."�

"We will take wonderful memories of fulfillment, accomplishment and great people with us as life leads us to a new challenge and exciting opportunity,"� he said. "Judy and I thank the entire UAF community for so warmly embracing us."�

Since his arrival at UAF, Jones led efforts to update the university’s strategic plan and convened the Vision Task Force, a body of 55 opinion leaders to help implement it. Jones has also focused on building a culture of philanthropy in support of the university. Jones chairs the governing board of the University of the Arctic, a university consortium that connects UAF to more than 700,000 students in eight circumpolar nations. His emphasis on UAF research has enabled the university to sustain its success in competitive grants and contracts.

Jones is slated to begin work at Urbana University July 1, 2008. His last day at UAF is expected to be in mid-June. Fairbanks resident and businessman Brian Rogers will serve as UAF’s interim chancellor.

CONTACT: Steve Jones at 907-474-7112 or or via e-mail at steve.jones@uaf.edu. Carla Browning, UAF public information officer, at 907-474-7778 or via e-mail at carla.browning@uaf.edu.