Office of External Communications

Houston, TX 77204-5017 Fax; 713/743-8199

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 27, 2004

Contact: Michael Cinelli
713/743-8155 (office)
281/267-7108 (pager)
macinelli@central.uh.edu

HOUSTON, Jan. 27, 2004 – Current University of Houston – Victoria provost Don N. Smith has been named interim president of the institution effective Feb. 1, UH System chancellor Jay Gogue announced today.

The UH System Board of Regents is expected to approve Smith’s appointment on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2004. A search committee is being formed to recommend candidates to fill the presidency on a permanent basis.

Smith takes office following the departure of Karen Haynes who left UH-Victoria this month to become president at California State University-San Marcos. This will be the third time Smith has been named interim UH-Victoria president. He filled the post temporarily in 1989 and again in 1991-1992.

“Given his extensive experience as provost, as well as his previous service as interim president for our Victoria university, Don Smith will provide strong leadership for the faculty, students and staff there as we progress through this transition,” Gogue said. “Since the selection process for a new president needs to be thorough, deliberate and exhaustive, we are fortunate to have someone of Don’s caliber to keep this ship moving in the right direction.”

Smith joined UH-Victoria in 1987 as dean for academic affairs. He remained in that post until 1993 when he became vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculties at the State University of West Georgia. He returned to UH-Victoria in 1995.

Smith earned his undergraduate degree in English from Berea College, his master’s from Ohio University and his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. He serves as a member or officer of several boards and organizations, such as the Board of Directors for the Victoria Symphony Society and the regional advisory board for the South Texas Small Business Development Center.

About the University of Houston System
The University of Houston System is the state’s only metropolitan higher education system, encompassing four universities and two multi-institution teaching centers. The universities are the University of Houston, a nationally recognized doctoral degree-granting, comprehensive research university; the University of Houston-Downtown, a four-year undergraduate university beginning limited expansion into graduate programs; the University of Houston-Clear Lake; and the University of Houston-Victoria, both upper division and master’s-level institutions. The centers are the UH System at Sugar Land and the UH System at Cinco Ranch. In addition, the UH System includes KUHF-FM, Houston’s National Public Radio and classical radio station, and KUHT-TV, the nation’s first educational television station.

For more information about UH visit the university’s ‘Newsroom’ at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.