Oct. 6, 2014
CWU Extends Contract for President James L. Gaudino
The trustees of Central Washington University today approved a three-year contract extension for President James L. Gaudino. His contract now ends July 31, 2019. The contract included no compensation enhancements.
Trustee Ron Erikson supported the contract extension, noting that Gaudino has had to make difficult choices and has done so with transparency.
“I’m so impressed with Jim’s vision, executive management skills, and his judgment,” said Erikson, co-founder and chairman of ivi, inc., a streaming digital media company. “I want Jim’s leadership to continue.”
In urging a positive vote, trustee Chris Liu, director of the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services, said, “He keeps at the forefront at all times what the students are doing and how we should be stewarding them into the future, because the students are the future of our state. The amount of activity he participates in on campus is absolutely amazing.”
Since his appointment to the presidency in 2009, Gaudino led the university through massive reductions in state support and significant enrollment increases. Under his leadership the campus has transformed digital communication for business processes and has led all other institutions in the development of online access to degree programs. Gaudino directed the development of a new strategic plan and the implementation of a new management system based on shared governance and precise data.
"I'm thrilled to have such strong support from the board," said Gaudino of the unanimous contract approval. "CWU is a wonderful institution with dedicated and caring employees who make student success their top priority every day. Their work and the board's leadership is driving CWU forward in spite of tough financial challenges."
Before coming to Central, Dr. Gaudino was the founding dean of the College of Communication and Information at Kent State University, a college that consists of the Schools of Communication Studies, Journalism and Mass Communication, Library and Information Science, and Visual Communication Design. Under his leadership, the College grew to become a center of innovation in the new information age.
Gaudino previously was the executive director of the National Communication Association. NCA is a scholarly society of 7,000 members that works to improve instruction and to produce research on topics of both intellectual and social significance related to human communication. During his 15-year tenure at NCA, the Association tripled its operating budget and overall net worth, expanded its annual convention and conference schedules, added four new journals to its publication catalog, was accepted into the American Council of Learned Societies, and became a leader in advocating for communication scholarship and instruction.
President Gaudino currently serves on the Division II Presidents Council of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. He is a member of the board of directors of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation; the Council of State Representatives for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities; and the Board of Directors of TVW, the Washington state public affairs network.
October 3, 2014