State Board of Higher Education Appoints Executive Vice Chancellor/COO

PORTLAND, June 4 ­ The State Board of Higher Education (the "Board") formally announced today that they have hired George Pernsteiner as executive vice chancellor, chief operations officer, and interim Chancellor for the Oregon University System. Pernsteiner -- currently a senior administrator at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a former 13-year campus and Chancellorıs Office administrator with OUS -- will lead System efforts to carry out the Boardıs initiatives and direct overall administration of the Chancellorıs Office. Pernsteiner will join OUS on July 6 under a two-year appointment, renewable on a year-to-year basis after that, at a salary of $219,500 a year.

Board director Don Blair, who led the Boardıs effort over the last few months to retain a permanent EVC and COO said, "We are very pleased that we were able to retain George Pernsteiner for this important leadership position in the System office. His strong track record with the OUS at the campus level at the University of Oregon and Portland State University, and in the Chancellorıs Office, gave us the confidence that he could hit the ground running, something that is really critical right now."

Pernsteiner will be actively engaged in implementing the policies and directives of the Board, particularly those related to their committee/working group initiatives, and its new vision for higher education and its administration in the state. He will directly oversee the operations and employees of the Chancellorıs Office; lead the biennial operating and capital budget process to effectively integrate OUS programs, initiatives and funding proposals into the Governorıs budget proposal, and present to the legislature; support and facilitate the efforts of universities to achieve overall System goals and the campusesı efforts to achieve their educational missions; create partnerships among OUS campuses, community colleges and K-12 institutions; and work closely with the Oregon legislature, the Governor and other constituencies to build support for higher education.

"The Board recognizes that positions at this level generally go through an open search process," said Board director Henry Lorenzen, who also led the review process. "Yet, considering the need in the Chancellorıs Office for a leader that can begin to have an immediate, positive impact and knowledge of the System and issues, George was considered the best person for the job. In our discussions with members of the community, George engenders confidence from campus and state government leaders, legislators, and Chancellorıs Office staff based on his track record and acknowledged leadership," added Lorenzen.

Pernsteiner has served as vice chancellor for administrative services at the University of California, Santa Barbara since 2002, a 20,000-student research university with a budget of over $500 million. Prior to his time in California, he was vice president for finance and administration at PSU from1995 to 2002; and vice provost and chief financial officer at the UO from 1996 to 1999. From 1989 to 1995 he served as associate vice chancellor for administration for the OUS where he oversaw planning, budgeting, financing and facilities. Other positions held by Pernsteiner include director of the Department of Administrative Services, special assistant to the Mayor, and other positions, all for the City of Seattle.

Pernsteiner said, "I am very excited about returning to Oregon to help serve the stateıs excellent public higher education system. There are many challenges and opportunities ahead of us over the next few years, but I know that through the Boardıs leadership and its work with the legislature, the Governor, the campuses and many communities with which we work, that we will meet the needs of our students to access and afford a higher education."