Contact: Monty Jones, (512) 499-4363

Date: November 19, 2003

UT System News Release

James Spaniolo Named President of U.T. Arlington

AUSTIN - James D. Spaniolo, dean of the College of Communication Arts and Sciences at Michigan State University, one of the nation's major research institutions, was named president of the University of Texas at Arlington on Wednesday (November 19) by the U.T. System Board of Regents.

Spaniolo, a professor of journalism who has held his present administrative position since 1996, was unanimously selected from among three finalists to succeed Interim President Charles A. Sorber. Dr. Bob Smith and Dr. Peter Hoff, previously named finalists, withdrew from consideration prior to the final vote of the Board of Regents. Sorber, a former U.T. System administrator, succeeded President Robert E. Witt, who left UTA in March to become president of the University of Alabama.

The appointment was made after the regents interviewed the finalists on Tuesday and Wednesday.

"Spaniolo brings to the presidency of U.T. Arlington an extraordinary record of service and achievement as a higher education leader, and he has a deep understanding of the complex role that universities play in today's society, as centers of research and education and as partners in economic development," said Charles Miller, chairman of the Board of Regents. "He has deep experience in working with and leading foundations and a keen understanding of the important role of private support to higher education. The importance of communicating the crucial role of higher education in our communities, to our state and to this nation is a key asset that he will bring to this institution and to the U.T. System. We believe that he is the right person to lead UTA into a new era of prominence in Texas and the nation."

Spaniolo is chief academic officer of a college that has five departments (advertising, audiology and speech sciences, communication, journalism, and telecommunication) and enrolls 3,500 undergraduates and 400 graduate students. As dean, he has fostered interdisciplinary programs, forged a partnership with a newspaper corporation in Mexico, and strengthened alumni outreach and fundraising.

Previously, Spaniolo served as vice president and chief program officer of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, vice president of human resources and assistant to the publisher at the Detroit Free Press, general executive and general counsel of the Miami Herald, and associate general counsel of the American Newspaper Publishers Association.

"I feel very good about this selection. We've recruited a top administrator from Michigan State University, one of the country's outstanding research and comprehensive academic institutions with a reputation for high standards in academic performance and enviable graduation rates," said Mark G. Yudof, chancellor of the U.T. System. "His experience in politics, journalism, law, philanthropy and in higher education were essential qualities that the Board felt were important in his selection. His service and experience on the Michigan State Capital Campaign steering committee and his record in fundraising for the institution and his college as dean will be enormously beneficial to U.T. Arlington and to the System."

Spaniolo holds a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University, where he was editor in chief of the student newspaper; a master's of public administration from the University of Michigan, and a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School. He is a member of the Florida Bar Association and has been admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the 5th and 11th U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals, and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

He serves on the advisory board of the Knight Foundation and on the accrediting committee of the Accrediting Council on Education and Journalism and Mass Communication.

He and his wife, Sally, have two children. His wife works as an academic advisor in the Honors College at MSU.

Resume

High-resolution photo

Website for U.T. Arlington

Finalists Named for President of U.T. Arlington (October 15, 2003)

Search Firm Named for Presidential Search at U.T. Arlington (May 5, 2003)

Advisory Committee Named by Regents' Chairman for Presidential Search at U.T. Arlington (February 25, 2003)

Charles Sorber Appointed Interim President of U.T. Arlington, National Search for Permanent President to Begin (February 10, 2003)