State picks Davies to lead EOU

Bob Davies

Bob Davies, vice president for university relations at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, was chosen Eastern’s next president by the State Board of Higher Education.

“I am very, very honored. When the phone call came it hit me what it means. I am very humbled,’’ Davies said.

George Pernsteiner, chancellor of the Oregon University System, recommended to the board, following the interviews, that Davies be selected.

“Bob has a tremendous ability to connect with students, staff and every kind of person who is part of the campus community’’  and the region, Pernsteiner said.

Davies, 42, will receive an annual salary of $185,460 under a two-year contract that begins July 1.

Davies will succeed Dixie Lund at EOU. Lund is completing the second year of her second stint year as Eastern’s interim president.

Davies praised Lund for the job she has done, noting that she took over at a time when EOU was struggling. The university faced tremendous challenges because  enrollment was in a downward spiral. Lund has righted the ship. Eastern’s enrollment last fall was an all-time high, winter term enrollment was up and spring enrollment is projected to be up.

“I thank Dixie for healing the university,’’ Davies said.

EOU’s presidential search committee received 59 applications. The field was first narrowed to about 10 candidates, nine of whom were interviewed by the search committee. Later, four finalists were selected, each of whom visited Eastern’s campus in February and spoke at public forums. EOU staff and community members were encouraged to provide input to the state board on the four finalists. More than 125 people did so.

State board member Rosemary Powers, a sociology professor at EOU, said the board appreciated the input.

“It showed a large engagement on campus,’’ Powers said.

One factor that may have helped Davies’ chances were his ties to the West, ones much stronger than any of the other four finalists. Davies has an undergraduate degree from the University of Nevada, an MBA from the University of Oregon and he worked at Boise State University from 1995 to 2000 as executive director of its alumni association.

Davies’ wife, Cindy, also has Northwest ties. Her parents live in Boise and she has a brother in the Tri-Cities area. The Davies have a young daughter, Katie. Bob Davies said he is anxious to take her fly fishing in Northeast Oregon.

Davies has been at Indiana University of Pennsylvania since 2006.

One thing he is proudest of is the work he has done at IUP to increase contributions to its foundation. Progress has been particularly noteworthy over the past eight months.

Gifts and pledges in the 2008-09 fiscal year are already double what they were in 2007-08 despite the downturn in the economy.

Davies said many people are making contributions now because they understand how badly funding is needed in today’s economic climate.

Another factor that has helped IUP, he said, is the flexibility it provides contributors when they set up donations.

Indiana University of Pennsylvania is a public university of about 16,000 students 55 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. Before taking the position at IUP Davies worked at the University of Buffalo, where he served as associate vice president for university relations from 2002 to 2006 and adjunct professor in the graduate school of education.

In New York, Davies earned a doctorate in higher education administration from  the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Davies, who is outgoing and appears to have perpetual  energy, has made a point of reaching out to students wherever he has been. Davies promised during his February visit to Eastern that, if selected president, he would meet and greet all EOU students at least once a year. Davies said on Friday he intends to make good on this promise.

“If I miss someone they can come in for a cup of coffee in my office,’’ he said.