Atlanta — October 10, 2001

Board of Regents Chairman Hilton H. Howell Jr. announced today the identification of the top three finalists for the University System of Georgia chancellor’s position being vacated by Stephen R. Portch. Portch announced in May of this year that he would step down from the position upon the identification of his successor.

The finalists, in alphabetical order, are as follows:

• William C. Gordon, president of the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Gordon has held his present position since March of 1999, after serving for one year as interim president of the institution. From 1996-98, Gordon had served as provost and vice president for academic affairs of the research university. He first joined the University of New Mexico in 1978 as an assistant professor of psychology, and was named a full professor in 1984. By 1990, he was chair of the Department of Psychology. Prior to being named provost, Gordon served as interim dean (1990-92) and later as dean (1993-96) of the College of Arts and Sciences. He began his academic career at the State University of New York at Binghamton in 1973, as an assistant professor of psychology. A native of Georgia, Gordon holds a B.A. in psychology, and a M.A. in experimental psychology, both from the Wake Forest University. He earned his Ph.D. in experimental psychology from Rutgers University.

• Richard S. Jarvis, chancellor, United States Open University, based in Aurora, Colo. Jarvis has served in his current role since September 1999, joining the U.S. Open University as its founding chancellor. From 1994 to 1999, Jarvis served as the chancellor of the University and Community College System of Nevada. From 1990-94, Jarvis was a top administrator in the State University of New York System Administration, serving as vice provost for academic programs and research from 1990-94, before taking on a joint appointment that year as acting provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. From 1987-90, Jarvis was vice president of academic affairs and professor of geosciences at the State University of New York at Fredonia. He began his career at SUNY, Buffalo in 1974, and moved from an assistant professor of geography (1974-78) to assistant to the president (1985-86). Jarvis holds a B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. from Cambridge University in England.

• Thomas C. Meredith, chancellor of The University of Alabama System, in Tuscaloosa. Meredith has served in his current role since June 1997. From 1988 to 1997, he served as president and professor of education at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green. He joined WKU from The University of Mississippi, where he had served as vice chancellor for executive affairs from 1987-88 and adjunct professor of higher education and executive assistant to the chancellor from 1984-1987. Previously, Meredith had served as an academic programs officer and as an associate director for programs and planning for the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning in Jackson, Miss., from 1974-1981. Meredith holds a B.A. in social studies and history from Kentucky Wesleyan College, an M.A. in education administration and supervision from Western Kentucky University, and an Ed.D. in administration and supervision with an emphasis in secondary and higher education from The University of Mississippi.

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