Williams Named Alumni Association Executive Director

February 10, 2003
University Park, PA-- Roger L. Williams '73,'75 MA,'88 DEd, associate vice chancellor for university relations at the University of Arkansas, has been appointed executive director of the Penn State Alumni Association, effective June 1. Williams will succeed Diane Ryan, who will retire after 23 years at the University, including six years in her current post.

Williams holds three degrees from Penn State and comes to the University with more than 25 years of higher education communications, public relations, and marketing experience. He has served as the chief public relations officer at three major research universities, including nine years as assistant vice president and executive director of university relations at Penn State.

"Roger's high energy level, genuine passion for Penn State, and long experience as an administrator in higher education will serve the university and the Association extremely well.  I am excited to have him return to Penn State," said Rodney P. Kirsch, vice president for development and alumni relations at Penn State.  "His familiarity with Penn State tradition and history combined with his capacity for creative leadership makes him a perfect choice for this job."

"Penn State has built the biggest, the best, and the most financially secure alumni association in the country, and I'm grateful for Diane Ryan's extraordinary contributions," Williams said. "Being No. 1 is always a challenge, however-there are no tail lights to follow, and everyone else is trying to follow yours and pass you by. I have tremendous respect for the volunteers and staff-with their help we will take the Association to unprecedented heights."

Williams has held his current position at the University of Arkansas since 1998, and has helped position the school as a nationally competitive research university. Under his guidance, the institution's University Relations staff won the top national award for college and university public relations and communications programs from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) as well as two bronze awards for science and research communications.

At Penn State, Williams helped to build a nationally prominent program that received more than 100 awards from CASEÑincluding the top award for institutional relations in both 1991 and 1992. He also worked to develop the Department of University Marketing.

"The Association's service to our alumni members and to the university is more important than it has ever been.  Roger's exceptional experience in higher education will help us meet and exceed our future goals," said Alumni Association President-elect Marianne Alexander. "His knowledge and pride in Penn State will help us maintain our national prominence and further the connections of Penn Staters everywhere."

Williams began his Penn State career in 1978 as a writer-editor in the Department of Public Information. In 1980, he assumed the director of campus relations position at Penn State Harrisburg. He returned to University Park a year later as manager of special projects. In 1984 he was promoted to assistant director and in 1985 to director of public information. He assumed his duties as assistant vice president and executive director of university relations in 1986. Since 1992 he has served at Penn State as an adjunct assistant professor of higher education-a position he continued to hold even after leaving the University Relations office. All told, Williams' professional career with Penn State has spanned 25 years.

Prior to his work at Arkansas, Williams served as the executive director of consulting services for Dick Jones Communications-a State College-based firm specializing in higher education communications and marketing. In addition, Williams served as the associate vice president for communications at Georgetown University from 1995-1996.

Williams has published 25 professional and scholarly articles. His book, The Origins of Federal Support for Higher Education: George W. Atherton and the Land-Grant College Movement (Penn State Press, 1991), was drawn from his doctoral thesis, which won the 1989 dissertation-of-the-year award from the Association for the Study of Higher Education. He holds a bachelor's in history, a master's in journalism, and a doctorate in higher education, all from Penn State.

Williams is married to Karen Magnuson, assistant director of publications at Penn State. He has a son, Nathan, 28; a daughter, Andrea Weston, 25; a step-daughter, Jessica Horne, 17; and a step-son, Philip Horne, 14.

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Bill Mahon (814) 863-1028, bmahon@psu.edu
Amy Neil (814) 865-7517, aen4@psu.edu