CAMPUS

BUZZ

Lewis named VP for development

T Arlington has named James C. Lewis vice president for development. He joined the University in May.

Lewis has 25 years experience as a development professional in higher education and for the past 13 years was vice president for institutional advancement at Austin College in Sherman, Texas. Prior to that, he served six years as vice president for development and two years as executive director of development at Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss. He also has held management positions at Southern Methodist University and Odessa College.

"Jim Lewis is a respected leader in the field of higher education development and has a stellar track record for building and managing successful fundraising operations," President James D. Spaniolo said. "We look forward to having someone of his caliber to lead our program."

At Austin College, Lewis provided leadership for the New Era Campaign, which raised more than $120 million to build and renovate 14 facilities, increased the number of million-dollar donors from 11 to 46 and established 277 scholarships totaling $26.5 million.

He helped increase total gift revenue from $2 million annually in 1995 to an average of $13 million annually for the past six years.

"UT Arlington is clearly on the ascent due to President Spaniolo and the other senior leadership. I look forward to playing a role in continuing to position the University as a leader in higher education in this region and beyond," Lewis said. "While higher education is about developing academic programs, interesting research and helping young people find their niche in the world, it's really about changing lives."

It's a homecoming of sorts for Lewis, who lived in Arlington from 1962 to 1966 and attended UT Arlington in the 1970s.

A native Texan, he earned his M.B.A. in business administration from SMU. He holds an M.S. in student personnel and guidance and a B.S. in sociology/counseling from Texas A&M University-Commerce.

— Mark Permenter