Jones named president at California University of Pennsylvania

California University of Pennsylvania's new leader is the school's longtime interim President Geraldine Jones.

The Board of Governors of the State System of Higher Education unanimously appointed Jones to the presidency of the school Thursday during a meeting of the board that oversees Pennsylvania's 14 state-owned universities.

Jones' appointment, which boosts her salary from $208,000 to $245,000 a year, was the culmination of a national search that lasted nine months and came with an estimated price tag of $120,000.

The former California University provost, who earned her bachelor's and master's degrees at the school and has been on staff at her alma mater since 1974, was on hand for Thursday's vote at State System headquarters in Harrisburg.

“I am honored to serve as the president of California University of Pennsylvania. I am a proud alumna of California University of Pennsylvania and the State System,” an emotional Jones told the board of governors Thursday, vowing to work with her leadership team to move the school forward.

California University trustees and state system officials hailed the appointment.

“In every position Gerri has held, she has always been student focused. She clearly is committed to seeing her students and her university succeed,” State System Chancellor Frank Brogan said.

“California University has been my lifetime passion. Since my first days on campus as a student, it has been a special place to me,” Jones said in a statement.

An elementary teacher-turned-college administrator, Jones was thrust into the president's office in May 2012 following the ouster of longtime President Angelo Armenti. Armenti, who had been criticized for excessive spending, filed suit, contesting his dismissal. That suit is pending in federal court.

Jones erased an $11.5 million deficit at the school. But declines in enrollment, which plunged from 9,483 in 2011 to 7,854 last fall, coupled with reductions in state subsidies, led to layoffs in recent years.

Washington County Commissioner Larry Maggi, chairman of the council of trustees at the university, echoed Brogan's praise for Jones. She performed well as interim president during a turbulent period at the school, he said.

Her appointment, however, was not without controversy.

Jones was not one of the two finalists for the post that a presidential search committee recommended to the university's council of trustees last week.

The committee, working with an executive search firm, recommended Guiyan Huang, senior vice president for academic affairs, faculty dean and English professor at Norwich University in Vermont, and Ralph Rogers, provost and executive vice president of academic affairs at Nova Southeastern University in Florida, as finalists for the post.

Maggi said the council of trustees voted 9-2 to recommend Jones and Rogers as finalists to the Board of Governors. Members of the oversight board conducted final interviews and had final word on the appointment.

Last month, just days before it became public that Jones was among three finalists for the presidency, the university's faculty union scheduled, then postponed a vote of no-confidence in Jones.

Yesterday, faculty leaders were cautiously optimistic that they will be able to resolve their differences with Jones.

“We're glad that the search process is over,” said union President Barbara Hess. “Jones was not our first choice, but we wish her well. And we hope that we can work toward a positive resolution on the issue of possible faculty reductions.”

Ken Mash, president of the Association of State College and University Faculties, the organization that handles collective bargaining for faculty members and coaches at the state-system schools, said his organization has questions about the use of expensive consultants in presidential searches.

“We question whether you get the bang for your buck with them. That was a lot of money to be spent, and then you end up in-house when obviously the faculty was concerned with the current leadership,” Mash said.

Debra Erdley is a Tribune-Review staff writer. She can be reached at 412-320-7996 or derdley@tribweb.com