Dr. Gibson becomes first female President in National University History
La Jolla, Calif. – Dr. Jerry C. Lee, the driving force behind National University becoming the second-largest, private, nonprofit institution of higher education in California, and the National University Board of Trustees announced today the appointment of Dr. Dana Gibson as the third President in National University history.
Dr. Lee, who has served as President of National University since 1989 and Chancellor of the National University System since 2001, will continue to guide the strategic direction of the System in his role as Chancellor. Dr. Gibson will officially assume her duties as President of National University on July 9, 2007.
“Dr. Gibson’s distinguished list of achievements and accomplishments in both academics and business have resulted in her being ideally suited for the role of President of National University,” said Dr. Lee. “She has consistently exhibited the core values and beliefs which are the foundation for National University’s successes. I am confident that National University will continue to achieve the highest levels of academic rigor and quality under her direction and leadership.”
“I believe we have selected the right person to continue to build on the remarkable run of success which National University has experienced during Dr. Lee’s 18-year tenure as President,” said Mr. Gerald Czarnecki, Chair of the National University Board of Trustees. “Dr. Gibson will be an invaluable asset as we continue to shape the future course of National University. Her experience, talent and energy will not only benefit the current University community, but also future generations of National University students, faculty, alumni, administrators, and staff as well.”
Dr. Gibson joins National University from Southern Methodist University, where she has served as Vice President for Business and Finance since June 2005.
Prior to joining SMU, Dr. Gibson served as Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance at the University of Colorado at Denver. Beginning in 2004, she held a similar position at the university’s Health Sciences Center, with responsibility for consolidating the administrative structures of the two campuses.
From 2000 to 2002, Dr. Gibson gained valuable nonprofit experience as Vice President of Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer of the YMCA in Denver.
From 1986-2000, Dr. Gibson held several positions at Texas Woman’s University. In addition to being a member of the accounting and information systems faculty, she served as Speak Pro Tem of the Faculty Senate. Her duties at Texas Women’s University included lecturer (1986-89); Assistant Professor of Accounting and Information Systems (1989-1995); Special Assistant to the Vice President for Finance and Administration (1996-97); and tenured Associate Professor of Accounting and Information Systems (1995-2000). After serving three years (1997-2000) as Associate Vice President for Finance and Administration and Controller, she became Vice President for Academic and Information Services in 2000.
Dr. Gibson has received numerous awards and special assignments. She was invited to serve on the Texas Comptroller’s Task Force to redefine financial reporting in the state. She has received the “International Award for the Innovative Use of Imaging Technology in Higher Education” and was recognized by the American Accounting Association for “Notable Contribution to Information Systems Literature” for her work on the 1996 publication: “The Effect of Socio-Economic Background on Computer Anxiety and Performance: Evidence from Three Experiments.”
Dr. Gibson has served as associate editor for Advances in Accounting Behavioral Research and a reviewer for the Accounting Forum and the Journal of Information Systems. She has been a Certified Public Accountant since November 1984.
Dr. Gibson earned both a Bachelor of Science degree in Business-Accounting and an MBA from TWU. She received a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Arlington, with a major field of business accounting and minor fields of information systems and research methods.
For more information about Drs. Lee and Gibson, National University, or the National University System, contact David Neville at (858) 642-8163 or visit www.nu.edu.
About National University
National University is the second-largest, private, nonprofit institution of higher education in California. Using its core values of quality, access, relevance, accelerated pace, affordability and community, National University continues to focus on making lifelong learning opportunities accessible, challenging and relevant to a diverse population of nontraditional students. Founded in 1971, National University is comprised of five schools – Business and Management; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and Media and Communications – and the College of Letters and Sciences. National University is headquartered in La Jolla, California.
About the National University System
The National University System was established in 2001 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. The affiliates of the National University System are National University, National Polytechnic College of Science, Spectrum Pacific Learning Company LLC, National University Virtual High School, WestMed College, National University Academy of Health Sciences, and National University International. The System is headquartered in La Jolla, California.