KINGSTON, R.I. — December 19, 2000 — Dr. John H. McCray, Jr., URI’s vice president for student affairs for the last decade, has been appointed Vice Provost for Urban Programs at the Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Continuing Education at the Providence Campus of the University. McCray, who will assume the post on Jan.15, succeeds Walter Crocker, who served as dean of the college for the past 16 years and is retiring Jan. 13. “The nature of the University’s Providence presence has changed dramatically in recent years and is likely to continue to change in the future,” said M. Beverly Swan, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “This new position of vice provost within the Division of Academic Affairs reflects the substantial growth and importance of the programs and initiatives at the URI Providence Campus. The Providence Campus includes not only the Feinstein College of Continuing Education, but also numerous URI programs and outreach units, including the Feinstein Center for a Hunger Free America, the Urban Field Center, the National Center for Public Education, the Child Development Center, Psychological Counseling, the Charles T. Schmidt Labor Research Center, the College Readiness Program, the Special Programs Office, and the Family and Youth program of Cooperative Extension. “This new position is clearly a significant change in Dr. McCray’s assignment at the University, but one completely consistent with his professional expertise and personal interests,” said Swan. “The University is developing an Urban Initiative to connect our expertise and capabilities more intentionally with the state’s urban areas and their unique needs,” said Swan. “Dr. McCray is a proven effective leader with a personal as well as professional commitment to urban programs and the city of Providence. This is a solid match and Dr. McCray will provide strong leadership for the college and the programs at the campus. “ McCray, who has more than 30 years of administrative experience, will be responsible for the operation of the Providence campus, including the management of all facilities and budgets. He will provide leadership in the development and coordination of a diverse range of academic and service programs to meet the needs of urban populations and serve as a principal advocate in the Urban Initiative and of the University’s role as a federally-designated Urban Grant Institution. He will also lead the planning, development and administration of all continuing education programs and facilities serving traditional and non-traditional students and administer the University’s successful Summer Session. A resident of Providence, McCray has served as treasurer and chairman of the Finance Committee of the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority and is a founding member and past president of the Board of the Minority Investment Development Corporation. He is also a member of the City of Providence Park Commission. He holds a Ph.D. in economics and has taught regularly as an adjunct professor in the URI College of Business Administration for many years. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics from the University of Michigan, a master of business administration from the William E. Simon School of Business Administration, University of Rochester, and his doctorate from Wayne State University in Detroit. McCray is also a graduate of Harvard University’s Institute of Educational Management. Prior to joining URI, McCray was vice president for student affairs at the State University of New York (SUNY) College at Brockport and dean for Student Services at the University of Michigan-Flint. He was also an assistant professor of naval science at the University of Rochester. In his role as a URI vice president, McCray has had responsibility for the Division of Student Affairs. The division, with an annual budget in excess of $50 million, includes the offices of Student Life, Multicultural Student Services, Career Services, the Women’s Center, Disabled Student Services, and at one time included athletics. He has also been responsible for auxiliary operations, which include Dining Services, Memorial Union operations, Health Services, and Housing and Residential Life and have an annual operating budget of $35 million, a $47 million asset protection program, and a $10 million construction program. A former commander in the U.S. Navy Reserves, McCray is married to Marguerite P. Cadieux-McCray. They have three children. For Information: Todd McLeish 874-7892