October 17, 2011
SAN DIEGO, CALIF. – Dr. Jerry C. Lee, who has served as Chancellor of the National University System since 2001 and who previously served as President of National University from 1989 to 2007, has advised the System’s Board of Trustees that he will step down as Chancellor on December 31, 2012.
“The past 22 years have been some of the most extraordinary years of my life, and I have been blessed to have been associated with such outstanding students, faculty, staff, trustees and friends of the System community,” said Dr. Lee. “I believe the National University System’s best years lie ahead, and I look forward to observing our progress while continuing to contribute, but in a much different way.”
As Chancellor, Dr. Lee oversees the six affiliates of the National University System, including: National University; John F. Kennedy University; National University International; the Division of Pre-College Programs, consisting of National University Virtual High School and National University Academies; Spectrum Pacific Learning; and WestMed College. Under Dr. Lee’s direction, the combined worth of the affiliates of the National University System has been estimated as much as a billion dollars.
During his time as President, Dr. Lee oversaw the remarkable transformation of National University as it became the second-largest private, nonprofit institution of higher education in California and the 12th largest in the United States. Under Dr. Lee, National University recorded an impressive list of accomplishments, including: preparing more teachers each year than any other single California institution for the past 11 years in a row; having the largest number of graduate students in California and the sixth-largest graduate program in the nation; and housing the largest master’s degree program in special education in California and the second-largest in the nation.
National University also has been recognized for offering access to traditionally underserved learners. Today, National University ranks first in California in awarding master’s degrees to Hispanics, African Americans and women, and first in the nation in awarding master’s degrees in education to Hispanics and African Americans.
Other notable accomplishments under Dr. Lee include: an alumni community of more than 129,000; endowment funds totaling more than $400 million coupled with the fact that National University is debt-free; and National University being named to the 2010 “Best Colleges to Work For” Honor Roll by The Chronicle of Higher Education.
The National University System Board of Trustees has begun to plan the search process for the next Chancellor. The Board will announce the initiation and details of the search process in February 2012.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
National University System was established to meet the emerging challenges and demands of education in the 21st century. The System is uniquely aligned to connect a diverse population of students to a network of innovative educational programs that are relevant to their lives, careers, and the marketplace and are delivered in a format that respects competing life priorities. Dr. Jerry C. Lee has served as the System’s Chancellor since it was founded in 2001. The affiliates of the System are: National University; John F. Kennedy University; National University International; the Division of Pre-College Programs, which includes National University Virtual High School and National University Academies; Spectrum Pacific Learning; and WestMed College. Entities related to the System include: the National University System Institute for Policy Research; the Center for Integrative Health; National University Golf Academy; and the Center for Performance Psychology. For more information, visit: www.nusystem.org.
ABOUT NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
Founded in 1971, National University is the second-largest private, nonprofit institution of higher education in California and the 12th largest in the United States. With 22,000 full-time students and 129,000 alumni, National University is the flagship institution of the National University System. National University is dedicated to making lifelong learning opportunities accessible, challenging, and relevant to a diverse population of students. Four schools and one college – the College of Letters and Sciences; the School of Business and Management; the School of Education; the School of Engineering, Technology and Media; and the School of Health and Human Services – offer 100 graduate and undergraduate degrees and 22 teacher credentials at more than 30 locations throughout California and in Henderson, Nevada. A leader in online education, National University offers more than 60 degree programs via the Internet. National University is headquartered in La Jolla, California. To learn more, visit www.nu.edu.
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