Campus Forum
May 7, 2004

Sanborn to serve as interim director of Alumni Association
After many months of dedicated work involved in the national search for Ernie Gale’s replacement, the search committee for the position of Alumni Affairs Executive Director recently made their recommendations to me and President Hart from the pool of talented finalists. While the finalists brought many strengths to the table, the search committee, President Hart and I have decided to name an interim executive director to this position effective May 3. It is the collective opinion of everyone involved in this extensive search that we need to continue the search process to find the best possible candidate with the appropriate diversity of experience to fill the position of UNH Alumni Affairs Executive Director. This position is critical to the future advancement of the university.

I am pleased to announce that Executive Assistant to the President Gregg Sanborn has agreed to serve as Interim Executive Director of Alumni Affairs for the next 14 months, effective May 3, while a more extensive national search is conducted. As a UNH alumnus and a member of the university administration for almost 33 years, Gregg brings a depth of knowledge and understanding of the university’s mission of academic excellence as well as the experience and insight regarding the importance and value of Alumni Affairs and the Alumni Association.

President Hart has generously agreed to allow Gregg to assume this important position because of the critical role the Alumni Association and Alumni Affairs play in the institutional advancement of UNH. To ease the transition from the President’s Office into his new role as interim executive director, Gregg will split his time between Alumni Affairs and the President’s Office for the next few months, until a replacement is found for his current position in the President’s Office. Following the completion of the national search for a full-time executive director, Gregg will continue to work for President Hart on special projects where his expertise is best utilized.

We extend our gratitude and sincere thanks to Ernie Gale for his many years of dedication and commitment to UNH Alumni Affairs and the Alumni Association and wish him well in his retirement. To the members of the search committee and Brenda Cote, we are extremely grateful for your many long hours of hard work and diligence in coming together to find the right candidate to fill this position. A very special thank you is extended to Karen Johnson, ’84, who chaired the search committee and worked tirelessly to lead this important effort. And finally, a warm and generous thank you to the many talented candidates who participated in this search and gave their very best to this endeavor. Your commitment and dedication to UNH have been tremendous and greatly appreciated by all.

Jennifer Murray, Vice President for
University Communications and Marketing