LIST OF CANDIDATES FOR UAF'S TVC CAMPUS DIRECTOR NARROWS; COMMUNITY OPEN FORUMS SET

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 23, 2000

Fairbanks, Alaska – The names of four finalists for UAF's Tanana Valley Campus director have been forwarded to Ralph Gabrielli, Executive Dean of the College of Rural Alaska. The finalists are Carl Ellis, Associate Vice President of Peru State College, Peru, Neb.; John (Jake) Poole, acting director of the Tanana Valley Campus; Rickey Huffstutler, Vice President and Dean of J. F. Ingram State Technical College, Phenix City, Ala; and Ray Sanders, Associate Vice President for Technical and Sponsored Programs, Lewis-Clark State College, Lewiston, Idaho.

Ellis currently holds the position of Associate Vice President of Peru State College. He has more than 24 years experience in academic affairs, student affairs and administrative services, and has held various positions including department chair, director, assistant and associate dean, assistant vice chancellor, vice chancellor, associate vice president and vice president. Ellis has experience in successful program leadership, competency in fiscal management and responsibility for program planning and development at both the institutional and statewide level.

Poole has been acting TVC director since November 1999. He was the UAF Alumni Association Director before accepting the acting TVC position. Poole has nearly a quarter century of teaching, program development, administration and management experience. He served 22 years in the U. S. Army and was Post Commander at Fort Wainwright from 1993-1995 before his retirement from the armed services. Poole has chaired or served on numerous university committees including the UAF Outreach Working Group and the University Master Planning Committee. He has also chaired or served on various boards and committees throughout the community.

Huffstutler has 20 years of administrative experience at the two-year college level, including six years of academic administration, 12 years of business and financial administration and three years experience as college dean. He has implemented programs as diverse as horticulture and automotive upholstery.

Sanders is the Associate Vice President for Technical and Sponsored Programs at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho. His duties currently include the administration of 42 technical degree programs, workforce training and the college's community development program. He has also served as research director, coordinator of international projects and associate professor of occupational and adult education within Lewis-Clark's College of Education.

Community members are invited to meet the candidates at a round of receptions beginning this Friday, Aug. 25 at TVC's Downtown Center. Ellis is the first candidate to visit with the community on Friday, followed by Huffstutler on Aug. 28, Poole on Aug. 30 and Sanders on Sept 1. All receptions will be held from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. at TVC's Downtown Center on Aug. 25, Aug. 28, Aug. 30 and Sept. 1. Additional open forums will be scheduled to give faculty, staff, students and the community an opportunity to meet each of the finalists.

TVC, located at the Downtown Center in Fairbanks, is one of several campuses administered by UAF's College of Rural Alaska. Other UAF campuses within the Rural College include sites in Bethel, Dillingham, Kotzebue and Nome. Through its Downtown Center, University Park and the Hutchison Career Center, TVC offers classes to people who want to obtain job skills in fields ranging from fire science and aviation mechanics, to computer applications and paralegal services. Programs are designed to meet the needs of local and state employers.

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CONTACT: Michele Stalder, UAF Tanana Valley Campus, at (907) 474-1149.

DPD/8-23-00/01-011