MICHAEL RIERSON NAMED NEW ADVANCEMENT
CHIEF
AT UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, UH SYSTEM
Onetime USF, Duke Administrator Will Oversee Development,
Public Affairs at UH, UHS Starting Oct. 15
HOUSTON, Sept. 14, 2005 – Michael D. Rierson has been appointed
Vice President and Vice Chancellor for University Advancement at
the University of Houston and UH System, respectively.
His appointment, which was announced by UHS Chancellor Jay Gogue,
is subject to final confirmation by the UHS Board of Regents. Rierson
is scheduled to begin Oct. 15.
“We’re fortunate to have an individual with his considerable
experience and clear commitment to educational excellence joining
us,” Gogue said.
Rierson has been serving as the Vice President for University Advancement
at the University of South Florida and USF Foundation president
since 2001. Prior to that, Rierson held a similar position at the
University of Miami. He has also held administrative positions at
Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
“The eyes of the world have been focused on Houston these
past few weeks, and they have seen a world-class city that is home
to a world-class university. This is the kind of place where people
can make a real difference,” Rierson said, “and I am
thrilled to be joining the University of Houston and the UH System
to help make a difference for today and for the future.”
During his tenure at USF, Rierson led the school’s largest
annual giving year to date and secured the largest gift in the institution’s
history -- $34.5 million from Dr. Kiran C. Patel. He also played
a pivotal role in USF gaining entry into the Big East Athletic Conference.
A School of Journalism graduate from the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill, Rierson also holds a master’s degree in communication
from that institution.
Rierson has served as former North Carolina Gov. James B. Hunt’s
senior policy adviser and speechwriter. While living in Washington,
D. C., he worked as manager of corporate relations for PBS. In the
1970s, Rierson was assistant director of the UNC Center for Public
Television, the statewide television network. In 1995, Rierson was
awarded a Fulbright Scholarship and studied at the University of
Copenhagen.
In his new position, Rierson will oversee development and public
affairs at the University of Houston and coordinate advancement
activities at all four UH System universities and the area teaching
centers. He also will play a principal role in the major capital
campaign currently being considered by the UHS Board of Regents.
Note: A photo of Rierson is available at http://www.uh.edu/media/nr/2005/09sept/riersonphotop.html.
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; and 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 in Fort
Bend 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 universitys Newsroom at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.
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