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UNC Announces AVP for Continuing Education, Academic Outreach
June 1, 2009
- Media contact: Nate Haas
- 970-351-1763 nate.haas@unco.edu
The University of Northern Colorado, after a national search, has named an educator with more than 20 years of leadership experience in higher education as assistant vice president for Continuing Education and Academic Outreach.
Patricia Book, Ph.D., has spent the better part of her career leading academic outreach efforts, building partnerships and engaging in economic development initiatives. She served for the past five years as vice president for Regional Development at Kent State University in Northeast Ohio.
At UNC, Book will lead a reorganized continuing education program previously managed by the assistant vice president for Research and dean of the Graduate School. She will oversee the offices of Extended Studies, which manages the university’s self-sustaining off-campus programs, and the Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning, which provides an array of professional development opportunities for faculty, staff and students.
"Dr. Book’s impressive track record in higher education leadership speaks for itself," said Provost and Senior Vice President Abe Harraf. "Her expertise will be invaluable as we continue to enhance our off-campus learning programs, broaden professional development opportunities on and off campus, and forge new partnerships to foster collaboration beyond campus."
At Kent State, Book helped manage seven regional campuses, the Kent Campus’ College of Continuing Studies, the university’s Economic Development and Strategic Partnerships effort, including establishment of Kent State’s Centennial Research Park, and a business organizational development service unit called Regional Corporate and Community Services.
She previously served for 12 years as associate vice president for Outreach and executive director of the Division of Continuing Education at Penn State University. She was instrumental in the development of Penn State’s new Conference Center and Hotel, a $42 million anchor project in the university’s Research Park. Previously, she was dean of the School of Career and Continuing Education at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Book earned her Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Connecticut, her M.A. in cultural anthropology from UCONN, and her B.A. from Oakland University in anthropology. She has conducted research in the Middle East with children suffering from a chronic genetic anemia, served as an applied anthropologist working extensively with native Alaskans in health and human services planning in central and northern Alaska and served as a research director focused on socioeconomic research for municipal government. Her work has involved extensive travel around the world, particularly in Central and South America and Asia.
In addition, Book is chair of the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities’ Council on Engagement and Outreach. She is president of the National University Continuing Education Association. She also serves on numerous community arts and human services boards and economic development organizations and her commitment to community service earned her the First Lady’s Award for volunteerism in the State of Alaska.
"I’m excited about the many opportunities we have at the university to serve the continuing professional educational needs of Greeley, northern Colorado, the state and beyond through our academic outreach initiatives," Book said. "UNC is a great institution. Enhancing our role in talent development through outreach to business, industry, and the community to support economic competitiveness will be at the top of my priority list."
Book’s began her new role Monday. Her office is in Michener Library.
