Joanne K. Glasser has been named president of Eastern Kentucky University.

The selection of Glasser as the University's 10th president was announced at a special meeting of the EKU Board of Regents Friday, Aug. 24 and follows a nationwide search that culminated in campus visits this past week by Glasser and four other candidates. EKU's first female president will begin her new job Monday, Oct. 29. (Mary Roark served as acting president of Eastern from 1909 to 1910.)

"The search process produced five excellent presidential candidates," said C. Fred Rice, chair of EKU's Board of Regents. "Ms. Glasser's qualifications and experiences more closely meet our expectations, and she impressed the University community with her enthusiasm and focus on meeting student needs."

Glasser, 50, comes to EKU from Towson University in Maryland, where she has served as executive vice president of institutional advancement. She was named vice president for institutional advancement in 1995 and was promoted to executive vice president in 1999. From 1993 to 1999, she also served as executive assistant to the president and was the University's fair practices/Affirmative Action officer 1993-95.

"I am deeply honored and extremely humbled by the expression of confidence the Eastern Kentucky University Board of Regents, its faculty, its students, staff, alumni and Richmond community have placed in me," Glasser said.

"Eastern Kentucky University is a wonderful place to learn, to live, and to work. As a dynamic center of learning it is a critical resource to the citizens of Kentucky," she added. "I look forward to continuing to expand Eastern Kentucky University's role in offering opportunity, support and cooperation with the community and the region. I also look forward to working with all the people in forging a partnership that will continue to move this institution to even greater regional and national eminence."

While at Towson, Glasser directed a $17.5 million capital campaign, the first major campaign in the institution's history, and developed a University-wide marketing initiative. Her campaign to develop a new institutional corporate identity received national recognition.

Towson University is a comprehensive institution serving about 16,000 students.

The Daily Record, a statewide business and legal news publication in Maryland, named Glasser one of Maryland's Top 100 Women in 1997 and again this year.

A native of Baltimore, Md., Glasser earned a bachelor's degree in political science from
George Washington University in 1973, a juris doctorate degree from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1976, and a certificate from the Institute of Education Management in the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Prior to joining Towson, she served as Baltimore County labor commissioner 1980-86 and as assistant county attorney 1978-80.

She has two children, Jared, 25, and Jacqueline, 15.

The 13-member EKU Presidential Search Committee, chaired by Rice, reviewed applications and nominations and conducted neutral site interviews before selecting five candidates for campus interviews. The committee - composed of student, faculty, staff, alumni, community and Board of Regents representatives - was assisted by A.T. Kearney Executive Search, Alexandria, Va.

Dr. Eugene M. Hughes has served as interim president at EKU since July 1.