University of Texas at Arlington officials tapped into MSU's resource pool, announcing Wednesday that James Spaniolo is the school's seventh president.
In a search that originally began with 108 applicants and was narrowed to five finalists in mid-October, the dean of the College of Communication Arts and Sciences confirmed the decision via telephone from Texas.
"I felt very honored and excited about this opportunity," he said. "I was a little surprised, too. The finalists all had outstanding credentials and experiences. I feel very fortunate to have this opportunity."
Spaniolo said he will begin working as Arlington's president near Feb. 1 and will return to East Lansing on Friday to complete his tenure as dean of the fifth largest college at MSU.
His immediate goals as Arlington's president will be to fill administrative vacancies at the school.
For long-term goals, Spaniolo said he wants to strengthen Arlington - the 25,000-student university near Dallas - as a research institution.
Spaniolo defeated Peter Hoff, president of the University of Maine; Roderick McDavis, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University; Arthur Vailas, vice chancellor for research and intellectual property management in the University of Houston System; and Bob Smith, University of Arkansas provost.
Smith dropped out from the candidate pool late last week because of frustrations with the hiring process.
News of Spaniolo's presidency in Texas garnered mix reactions from administrators at MSU.
"We are all going to miss him. He's been an extraordinary asset to MSU," MSU Provost Lou Anna Simon said. "It's obviously an extraordinary compliment to Jim Spaniolo and Michigan State to recognize the leadership he's provided in moving our academic agenda forward."
Simon said there haven't been plans to name an interim dean, and the process to hire a full-time dean hasn't begun either.
But some officials within the College of Communication Arts and Sciences, although happy for Spaniolo, were concerned with how Spaniolo's transition would affect MSU.
Jane Briggs-Bunting, director of the MSU School of Journalism, said because of tough economic times, Spaniolo's absence could hinder MSU's journalism program.
"This makes it less administratively painless to merge a few units," she said. "That could have potentially devastating effects to professional programs like the school of journalism.
"I wish him all the best. But, boy, I wish this would have happened two years from now and not now."
Spaniolo graduated from MSU with a degree in political science in 1968. He earned a law and master's degree from the University of Michigan, graduating in 1975.
He began his legal career in a firm that represented The Miami Herald, and served in administration positions there and at the Detroit Free Press. He also served as the vice president and chief program officer of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the largest media-related foundation in the United States.
Spaniolo became the sixth dean of the College of Communication Arts and Sciences in 1996. His wife, Sally, is an adviser in MSU's Honors College.
Spaniolo, who also is a member of The State News board of directors, said his and his family's departure from MSU won't be easy.
"We have very strong feelings for MSU," he said. "It's been an important part of our lives and will always be.
"Our hearts will always bleed green."
