NEWS RELEASES

January 13, 1999

For immediate release

Regents announce candidates for executive director

The Board of Regents has identified four individuals to be interviewed on January 14 and 15 for the position of Executive Director. The candidates are:

Linda J. Blessing Director, Arizona Department of Economic Security

Dr. Blessing has served since 1993 as the Director of the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES), the largest state agency with more than 9,500 employees and annual resources of $2.5 billion. She previously served as Deputy Executive Director of the Arizona Board of Regents from March 1991 until December 1992. Prior to that, she worked from 1981 to 1991 for the Arizona Auditor General's Office, serving as Deputy Director from 1985-1991. Blessing currently serves as a faculty associate at Arizona State University. She serves on several Boards and Commissions, including the Valley of the Sun United Way, the Governor's Arizona/Mexico Commission and the Governor's Workforce Development Council. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from California Polytechnic University, a Master's Degree in Business Administration from California State University, and a Doctorate in Public Administration from Arizona State University.

David A. Longanecker Assistant Secretary of Postsecondary Education, U.S. Department of Education

Dr. Longanecker, in his position as Assistant Secretary of Postsecondary Education, is the senior ranking official in the federal government responsible for overseeing the federal role in higher education, which includes developing and implementing national policy and programs that provide more than $1 billion annually to institutions to enhance educational quality and innovation and more than $40 billion annually in student aid. Before joining the U.S. Department of Education in 1993, he served for five years as the Executive Director of the Colorado Commission on Higher Education. He also served for seven years at the Minnesota Higher Education Coordinating Board, serving as Executive Director from 1984 to 1988.

He has served on several boards and organizations, including the State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO) and the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education (WICHE) Student Exchange Committee. Longanecker earned his Bachelor's Degree in Sociology at Washington State

University, his Master's Degree in Higher Education at George Washington University, and his Doctorate in Administration and Policy Analysis in Higher Education at Stanford University.

Robert T. Tad Perry Executive Director, South Dakota Board of Regents

Dr. Perry has been Executive Director of the South Dakota Board of Regents since 1994. Previously, he served for two years as the Chief Operating Officer of Indiana's Partnership for Statewide Education, a statewide consortium for the operation and delivery of distance education programs in Indiana. Prior to that, Perry enjoyed a long association with Ball State University, serving in various positions, including Associate Vice President and Assistant Provost. He is a member of the State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO) organization and the National Association of System Heads (NASH). He received his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from Central Methodist College, and his Master's Degree and Doctorate in Political Science from the University of Missouri.

David L. Potter Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs,

George Mason University

Dr. Potter has served in several positions at George Mason University in Virginia over the last 15 years. He has been Provost since 1996 and previously served as the President's chief of staff, Vice President for Executive Affairs, and Vice President and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Prior to joining the faculty at George Mason, Potter worked for five years at the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, serving as the chief academic officer. He recently served as Chair of the Task Force on Student Learning, a six member national group that was charged to develop and advocate effective collaboration between academic and student affairs offices to strengthen student learning. He received his Bachelor's Degree in History from Amherst College and his Master's Degree and Doctorate in Social Science from Syracuse University.

"This appointment is critical to the university system," said Board President Judy Gignac. "The four finalists are all highly qualified candidates whose skills and experience provide a close fit with the needs and requirements of this position."

Interviews will be conducted by a Board search committee in executive session. The Board has been searching for a replacement for Frank Besnette, its current Executive Director, who will be leaving his post on June 30.

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