Media Contact:
Keith Nichols, News Services, 919/515-3470

Dec. 16, 2005

Zuiches Named NC State VC For Extension, Engagement, Economic
Development

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

James Zuiches, professor in the Department of Community and Rural Sociology and project leader for the National Coalition for Rural Entrepreneurship at Washington State University, has been named vice chancellor for extension, engagement and economic development at North Carolina State University. Chancellor James L. Oblinger made the announcement today following approval by the NC State Board of Trustees Academic Affairs and Personnel Committee. The appointment is effective March 15.

In his new role, Zuiches (pronounced Zy-ches) will help lead and coordinate far-reaching extension, engagement and economic development programs at the university. Efforts include
activities of the Cooperative Extension Service, Industrial Extension Service, Small Business and Technology Development Center, non-credit operations of the McKimmon Center for Extension and Continuing Education, the Economic Development Partnership, and the H.
Hugh Shelton Initiative for Leadership Development.

“NC State has been an innovator in demonstrating the valuable and practical contributions American higher education can provide society,” Oblinger said. “University extension, engagement and economic development reach across all of our colleges and are diversified in campuswide and statewide partnerships. Jim Zuiches will provide the experience, leadership and vision needed to continue developing the breadth and depth of our partnerships and programs.”

Oblinger said “economic development” was added recently to the title to demonstrate and reinforce the “obvious importance of economic development, which is central to NC State’s land-grant mission.”

“NC State is well known for its outstanding extension, engagement and economic development efforts,” Zuiches said. “I’m looking forward to the work of building and strengthening relationships, and identifying partners. Working with the chancellor and the deans, we will continue to play a central role in the vitality and long-term economic and social well-being of North Carolina.”

At Washington State, Zuiches served as dean of the College of Agriculture and Home Economics for eight years, director of Cooperative Extension and the Agricultural Research
Center for four years and a professor in the Department of Community and Rural Sociology.

He has served on the Washington State Board of Natural Resources, was chair of the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC) Board on Agriculture Federal Budget Committee, and a member of the Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources, the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences. He is an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellow.

As a W. K. Kellogg Foundation program officer in 1994-95, Zuiches funded many community and rural development projects. The Kellogg Foundation and other foundations are funding his current project to create the National Coalition for Rural Entrepreneurship and increase support for job creation and growth in rural areas.

Prior to his appointment at Washington State, Zuiches served at Cornell, Michigan State and the National Science Foundation. His research specializations include demography, rural sociology and research administration. He has more than 70 publications, including professional journals, book chapters, bulletins and editorials.

He received his Ph.D. and M.S. in sociology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and his B.A. in philosophy and sociology from the University of Portland in Portland, Ore.

Recognized as one of the nation’s leading universities in science and technology, NC State is ranked ninth among national research-extensive universities in industry-funded research, third in total state and local research funding among public national research universities, second in total research expenditures in the University of North Carolina System, and 31st nationally
among public universities in total expenditures for research and development. More than 50
companies have spun out of NC State, creating more than 13,000 jobs.

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