Dr. Darryl G. Greer Joins Stockton's Hughes Center for Public Policy as Interim Senior Fellow, September 20, 2011

Dr. Darryl G. Greer Joins Stockton's Hughes Center for

Public Policy as Interim Senior Fellow

Will Help Articulate and Advance Higher Education Policy Issues

Richard Stockton College Press Release

September 20, 2011

Contact: Tim Kelly, Office of Public Relations (609) 652-4950 - Tim.Kelly@stockton.edu

Dr. Darryl G. Greer, longtime chief executive officer of the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities (NJASCU) and a nationally recognized expert in policy matters related to higher education, is joining The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey.

Greer comes to Stockton as Interim Senior Fellow of the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy beginning January 2012. In his new role, Greer will draw from more than three decades of higher education advocacy experience and help to establish the Higher Education Management Information and Governance (HEMIG) Center at Stockton. HEMIG's mission will be to articulate and advance issues of critical importance to higher education and the public trust.

"Public funding of higher education has been steadily eroding while accountability has increased," stated Stockton President Herman J. Saatkamp, Jr. "The loss of funding is regrettable and creates many difficulties for higher education in the United States. Accountability has always been a priority at Stockton College. But, all too often, the specific issues related to higher education are not sufficiently explicated or understood, resulting in strategies and legislation with unintended consequences. Darryl's contacts and ability to bring people together for higher education's greater good will enable the Hughes Center to contribute to an informed nonpartisan and clearly articulated dialog."

According to Stockton Provost and Executive Vice President, Dr. Harvey Kesselman, Greer's appointment adds a new dimension to the Hughes Center, which has established a leadership position in matters of public policy. "Stockton is very fortunate to have secured the talents of Darryl Greer, one of the nation's most knowledgeable and credible voices on matters related to higher education."

Dr. Saatkamp said the Hughes Center has achieved statewide and national recognition as a catalyst for research analysis and policy solutions to economic, social and cultural issues facing southern New Jersey and that issues facing higher education are both specific and complex, including the "out-migration" of New Jersey students, access to college for a diverse population, curricular development in times of global competition, and of course the costs associated with attending college. Stockton, currently under consideration to host one of the 2012 Presidential Debates, has long advocated civic engagement.

Greer, who led NJASCU since its very beginning in 1985, has been one of the leading and most outspoken advocates for state college autonomy and trustee governance and accountability. As such he is one of the most visible spokespersons for higher education. He has pioneered opinion polling on higher education in New Jersey and has maintained harmony amidst the diversity of the nine institutions, and spoken on their behalf in hundreds of appearances before government and statewide and national media.

Rochelle Hendricks, Secretary of Higher Education for the State of New Jersey, lauded the appointment. "I congratulate Dr. Greer on his many years of leadership of NJASCU and I am pleased he will join The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey as a Senior Fellow," Hendricks said. "We are fortunate that his experience, expertise, vision and commitment will remain a valuable part of statewide efforts to enhance higher education."

Specifically, Commissioner Hendricks cited the creation of the HEMIG Center. "This could not be more timely," she said, "as we confront numerous policy challenges and opportunities concerning access, attainment, affordability and accountability. I look forward to working closely with Dr. Greer and colleagues at Stockton."

"Among Darryl's many gifts, one of his most impressive is the ability to partner with many of the sharpest minds on higher education finance, affordability and governance, and to do so with respect and good humor," Kesselman said. "By moving to a campus-based location Darryl will be poised to delve more deeply into the issues and have the ability for a broader range of activities. It will allow him more freedom to advocate as a singular nonpartisan voice."

Dr. Greer has led NJASCU for 26 years as the representative of the nine state colleges and universities, including: The College of New Jersey, Kean University, Montclair State University, New Jersey City University, Ramapo College, Stockton, Rowan University, Thomas Edison State College and William Paterson University. He played a primary role in advising the governor and legislature on the Higher Education Restructuring Act of 1994, served on Governor Jon Corzine's transition team and recently advised Governor Chris Christie's transition, as well as the Higher Education Task Force headed by former Governor Tom Kean.

Prior to NJASCU, Greer served as Director of Government Relations of the College Board, New York City and Washington, DC, where he conducted a comprehensive program of public affairs at both the state and federal levels. Before that he was with the state government in Ohio as Assistant to the Chancellor of the Board of Regents (1976-1979), the state's planning agency for postsecondary education.

"I am very excited about the opportunity to join so many talented colleagues at Stockton, and the strong foundation built by the Hughes Center," said Greer. "I have been privileged to serve New Jersey's state colleges and universities for over two decades, and I am especially pleased to come home to Stockton as the college celebrates 40 years of excellence. I plan to use the state and national experience that has been afforded me to collaborate with others in New Jersey to make higher education even more accessible, more effective and deserving of public trust and investment."

Dr. Saatkamp noted that Greer's depth and breadth of experience enables the Hughes Center to make an immediate impact in the advancement of higher education issues.

"New Jersey has long sought the ability to place a national perspective on the statewide and local issues facing higher education," he said. "Darryl's skill set will be even more effective working internally on behalf of Stockton, with its access to research, an award-winning faculty and all educational resources. This Center, adds to the distinctiveness and prestige of Stockton as an institution while it serves the interests of our students, parents and institutions of higher learning."

Kesselman said the HEMIG will:

Develop guidelines for best practices for cost effective, accessible and accountable higher education
Conduct forums and conferences to gather higher education leaders and policymakers
Build an advisory board and core group of supporters for seeking state, federal and outside funding sources
Be accessible to education reporters, editors and other journalists to disseminate a pertinent information on the value of higher education
Teach classes and provide internships in higher education management information and governance
Provide impartial and research-based information related to higher education outcomes and civic engagement outcomes and public engagement

Greer earned his Ph.D. in political science at Stanford University in 1979. He also holds a M.A. degree in political science from Stanford and a B.A. in political science from Indiana University. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by Stockton in 2000 and a Doctor of Laws in 1999 by William Paterson University.