UCSB NAMES PUBLIC AFFAIRS CHIEF

Paul Desruisseaux has been named Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs, it was announced today by UCSB Chancellor Henry T. Yang.

Desruisseaux is a long-time senior member of the staff of The Chronicle of Higher Education who brings to UCSB a wealth of experience in journalism, education, publishing, and public relations.

In more than 18 years at The Chronicle , he has served as an editor of both domestic and international news. He developed The Chronicle's

coverage of philanthropy and fundraising into a weekly section, which eventually led to the establishment of a new publication, The Chronicle of Philanthropy .

He has reported from several countries, and written and edited foreign news for The Chronicle's daily report on the World Wide Web.

"Paul Desruisseaux will bring great strengths to UCSB," said Chancellor Yang.

"He has national and international experience as a journalist and an editor, an extensive knowledge of higher education, and a valuable background in university publications and public affairs.

This broad-based experience will help us further increase the visibility of our university.

We are delighted that he has agreed to join our campus community."

As Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs, Desruisseaux will serve as the chief spokesperson for the campus, direct the Office of Public Affairs, and advise the entire campus community in strategic planning for all areas of communications, public relations, and university publications.

"We are fortunate to have a person of Paul Desruisseaux's experience and talent as a colleague," said John M. Wiemann, Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement.

"His understanding of the national higher education scene will benefit UCSB greatly.

Further, his knowledge of philanthropy and his experience in alumni relations also will be important resources for the campus.

Paul will immediately add a wide range of expertise to our Institutional Advancement programs and we welcome him to our community."

Earlier in his career, Desruisseaux worked at UC Berkeley, serving as public information coordinator for the California Alumni Association and associate editor of California Monthly.

Prior to joining the Chronicle, he worked at the University of Southern California as director of periodicals.

"I am looking forward to helping tell the story of a dynamic institution that's at

a very exciting point in its development," said Desruisseaux.

"I have been impressed not only by the university's intellectual vitality, but by its commitment to diversity and opportunity.

I'm very pleased about becoming a member of such a community."

He has won numerous awards, including first prize for a special report on South Africa from the Education Writers Association and Grand Gold Medal awards from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education.

His writing has appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, the New York Times Book Review, and other publications.

David Marshall, chair of the search committee and dean of the Division of Humanities and Fine Arts said, "Paul Desruisseaux emerged as the leading candidate after an extensive and rigorous search.

We had a great many applications from highly qualified candidates from across the county.

I am grateful to the search committee --- which represented every major area of our campus community --- for its many hours of labor and its harmonious decision-making.

We are all confident that Paul Desruisseaux will make a major contribution to our campus."

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