Kutztown University President Dr. F. Javier Cevallos may be leaving Kutztown University.
Framingham State University announced that their Board of Trustees unanimously recommended the appointment of Cevallos as the 16th president of Framingham State University.
‘Framingham State is very fortunate to have selected a candidate the caliber of Dr. Cevallos,’ said Matt Santos, Kutztown University Relations, in a statement for KU. ‘He has accomplished a lot at KU over the last 11-and-a- half years, and will certainly be an asset to their campus.’
Santos notes that Cevallos’ appointment at FSU will not be official until approved by the Massachusetts Board of Education on Jan. 21.
‘He has indicated he will remain at KU for the remainder of the academic year (through June 2014),’ said Santos. ‘Once Dr. Cevallos’ appointment at FSU is official, we will begin to work with PASSHE to initiate the process to identify his successor, with a focus on finding another exceptional leader who is committed to ensuring Kutztown University remains a regional leader in higher education.’
Cevallos said in a Framingham State University release that the history and reputation of FSU attracted him to the position.
‘Framingham State is the first public normal school in the nation, so that history and tradition is attractive to anyone in public higher education,’ Cevallos said, according to a release from Framingham. ‘I have admired the institution since the 1990s, when I had a chance to visit and learn about many of the programs.’
Framingham Trustees voted to recommend Cevallos Tuesday, Jan. 7, concluding a six-month presidential search process. The recommendation will be voted on by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education on Jan. 21 in Boston. If approved, Cevallos will take over as president in July, according to the release.
‘The Board of Trustees was greatly impressed with the breadth of experience and depth of knowledge Dr. Cevallos demonstrated, as well as with his enthusiasm and vision for the future of Framingham State,’ said Framingham BOT Chairman Joe Burchill in a release. ‘We have full confidence in his ability to lead the University moving forward.’
According to the release, Cevallos has been president at Kutztown University since 2002. He began his career in education in 1981 as an assistant professor of Spanish at the University of Maine at Orono. In 1984, he moved to the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he was promoted to associate professor in 1988 and to full professor in 1992. In 1994, he was asked to serve as faculty advisor to the provost. In 1996 he was selected as a Fellow by the American Council on Education and spent his fellowship at Wesleyan University, in Middletown, Conn.
Upon his return to UMass, Cevallos became chair of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. Soon after, he was appointed Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, a post he held until he became President of KU.
‘In many ways, this is like coming home for me,’ Cevallos said. ‘I have spent so many years of my life in Massachusetts and still have many connections to the area.’
Cevallos was one of three finalists chosen from an initial field of 84 applicants reviewed by a 13-member Presidential Search Committee at Framingham State University made up of faculty, staff, students and administrators. He spent two days on campus in December meeting with members of the FSU community, according to the release.
‘Throughout the interview process Dr. Cevallos stood out as an exceptional candidate,’ said Richard C. Logan, chair of the search committee and vice chair of the Framingham State University Board of Trustees. ‘The search committee enthusiastically endorses his selection as president.’
Dr. Cevallos earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez and his master’s degree and PhD from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.