April 07, 2016

Geraldine M. Jones named president of California University of Pennsylvania

Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu

Harrisburg – The Board of Governors of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education today unanimously selected Geraldine M. Jones as the next president of California University of Pennsylvania. Ms. Jones has served as the university’s interim president since March 2013.

Ms. Jones was named Cal U’s acting president in May 2012, after having served for nearly four years as the university’s provost and vice president for academic affairs. She first came to the university in 1974 as director of the Upward Bound program.

“Geraldine Jones has provided more than four decades of extraordinary service to California University of Pennsylvania,” said Board of Governors Chair Guido M. Pichini. “She has led the institution through extremely challenging times as acting, then interim, president. We are confident she will continue to provide the university—her alma mater—the same level of service and leadership she has in the past, and will guide it to even greater success in the future.”

Ms. Jones graduated from what was then California State College in 1972. After beginning her career in education as a second grade teacher in the Albert Gallatin School District in Uniontown, Pa., she returned to Cal U. two years later. She served as director of the Upward Bound program for nearly 20 years before being named chair of the Department of Academic Development Services. She held that position for 11 years and later was named associate dean, then dean, of the College of Education and Human Services in 2000. She was named provost and vice president for academic affairs in 2008.

“California University has been my lifetime passion,” said Ms. Jones. “Since my first days on campus as a student, it has been a special place to me. I have dedicated my professional career to the university, and look forward to continuing to work on its behalf and on behalf of the students, faculty and staff to do the best I can to help ensure Cal U.’s success long into the future.”

“In every position Gerri has held, she has always been student focused,” said Chancellor Frank T. Brogan. “She clearly is committed to seeing her students and her university succeed. I look forward to continuing to work with her on behalf of California University and the State System.”

Jones’ selection comes at the conclusion of a nationwide search. Cal U. Council of Trustee member Jim Davis, who chaired the presidential search committee, called her selection by the Board of Governors “outstanding.”

“The Board of Governors made an outstanding choice to retain Geraldine Jones as president,” Mr. Davis said. “She has done an excellent job in very trying times, and I’m confident she will continue to do the same for the university in the future.”

Council Chair Larry Maggi echoed Mr. Davis’s support for the Board’s decision, saying Ms. Jones “has done a good job as interim president.”

“It has been a difficult time considering what has gone on at the state level,” Mr. Maggi said. “We’re happy with the decision the Board of Governors made.”

Ms. Jones also received her master’s degree from Cal U., in 1980.

Cal U. has a combined undergraduate and graduate enrollment of nearly 8,000 students. It offers more than 130 academic programs and its Global Online program offers a wide range of courses to students around the world, especially members of the military stationed overseas.

The State System universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. The universities also operate branch campuses in Oil City (Clarion), Freeport and Punxsutawney (IUP), and Clearfield (Lock Haven), and offer classes and programs at several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg and in Center City in Philadelphia.