Key Leadership Positions Filled

Key Leadership Positions Filled

Johnson, Shepard New VPs for Development, Public Affairs
BY MICHAEL CINELLI
Rice News Staff
April 22, 1999

Two key administrative leadership positions–which will be instrumental in
moving the university toward meeting its strategic goals as it enters the next
century–have been filled, Rice University President Malcolm Gillis announced
this week.

Eric Johnson, currently vice president for development at Carnegie Mellon University
in Pittsburgh, was named vice president for resource development. He will assume
his new responsibilities on July 1.

Terry Shepard, currently director of university communications and assistant
to the president of Stanford University, was named vice president for public
affairs. He will move to Rice by July 1.

"Terry Shepard comes to Rice with commendations and recommendations from
across the nation," Gillis said. "We are indeed fortunate to have
him at Rice. His prime responsibility will be to get across ‘Rice’s story’ to
our local, state, national and international constituencies.

"Eric Johnson is a seasoned fund-raiser with very fruitful experience
at MIT as well as Carnegie Mellon University. Among his numerous strengths is
his very special track record in garnering resources from the corporate sector.
There are very notable complementaries between the talents of Terry Shepard
and Eric Johnson, the newest members of Rice’s leadership team," Gillis
said.

As vice president for resource development, Johnson will be responsible for
overseeing Rice’s advancement and alumni relations operations, as well as coordinating
all aspects of the $500 million fund-raising campaign to support the university’s
strategic plan, "Rice: The Next Century."

"The search involved a study of the needs of Rice in taking the next steps
in improving our development operations and a search for the candidates who
could be most helpful to Rice as it pursues increasing its available resources
to fund the many activities of our outstanding faculty and students," said
Gilbert Whitaker, dean of the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management and
chair of the search committee for the vice president for resource development.

"Eric Johnson stood out among the impressive individuals who surfaced
in our national search because of, among other things, his experience in institutions
whose missions are similar to Rice and whose aspirations are also similar. We
are extremely fortunate to be able to attract him to Rice. He and his wife are
delightful people who will be excellent additions to the Rice community,"
Whitaker said.

Johnson said he considers it a privilege to be joining the Rice University
resource development team.

"I am eager to work closely with the faculty and staff to more fully engage
Rice’s extended community of alumni and friends in supporting the vision and
mission of the university and its academic programs," he said.

As vice president for public affairs, Shepard will be responsible for communicating
Rice’s mission and strengths in a consistent, persuasive and accessible manner.
He will have oversight of the university’s publications, government relations,
key aspects of Web content administration and media relations and information.

"President Gillis charged the search committee with finding the best person
in the country to ‘get the word out about Rice,”’ said Scott Wise, Rice’s vice
president for investments and treasurer and chair of the search committee for
the vice president for public affairs.

"We are confident we have done that with Terry Shepard. The success of
the committee’s efforts is due to each member’s belief in the importance of
public relations and communication at this point in Rice’s history," Wise
added.

Shepard said he has always had great respect for Rice, "and as I’ve gotten
to know its people better, I’ve become more impressed by the energy and enthusiasm
of its president, faculty, students and staff."

"Rice is what everyone out there is describing as the model university,"
Shepard continued. "It is the right size and has a dedication to teaching
coupled with top-notch research programs. And it has the spirit and resources
to do great things.

"I believe that, like me, the more the public learns about Rice, the more
impressed with, excited about and supportive of Rice it will be."