February 22, 2006 - Bellevue, WA

City University of Seattle has named Lee Gorsuch, a renowned leader in education, public policy, science and economics and Chancellor Emeritus of the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) as its president. City University of Seattle is one of Washington State's largest accredited, private, not-for-profit universities, with a worldwide network of locations and campuses offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Business, Information Technology, Education, and the Behavioral Sciences.

"Lee brings to City University of Seattle a legacy of success and innovative leadership in postsecondary education and lifelong learning. He has all the requisite skills to take the university to its next level of distinction," said John H. Mack, First Vice Chair of the Board of Governors, and a member of the Presidential Search Committee.

"Throughout my tenure at UAA, I have focused on increasing student success, improving academic quality, and designing academic programs that enable students to achieve their higher education goals while simultaneously balancing their work and family responsibilities" said Gorsuch. "It is gratifying to join City University of Seattle, which has been a pioneer in designing and delivering affordable professional programs that are convenient to students."

Gorsuch will focus on continued expansion of City University of Seattle's academic programs to meet student needs both domestically and internationally. In addition, City University of Seattle will continue to expand access for career-oriented students juggling work and family responsibilities, and strengthen ties to the many communities in which the University offers its academic programs.

"City University of Seattle's experience in creating multiple learning options to provide access to quality education for its students, honed and developed locally in Washington, is now successfully being replicated in locations throughout the region and the world," said City University of Seattle's Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs, Fernando Leon Garcia.

Gorsuch served as the Chancellor of UAA from 1994 through 2004 and was named Chancellor Emeritus in 2004. With enrollments in excess of 21,000 students, UAA is the largest campus in the University of Alaska statewide system. Prior to becoming Chancellor of the school, Gorsuch served as the Dean of the School of Public Affairs at UAA and as the Director of the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) at the University of Alaska. Previously, Gorsuch was a senior associate with the internationally renowned economic consulting firm, Nathan Associates, based in Washington, D.C. He has also served as President of the Anchorage School Board, President of the Alaska Association of Schools Board and as an advisor in numerous roles to all of Alaska's Governors since 1971.

Throughout his career in education, Gorsuch has been deeply involved in public policy and science and has advised numerous Congressional and Legislative committees as well as advocacy groups. Gorsuch was appointed by President Clinton to the U.S. Arctic Research Commission and worked to convey to Congress and the Executive Branch the important role of the arctic as a barometer of global climate change. Gorsuch has also served as the Chair for the U.S. Man in the Biosphere's High Latitude Ecosystems Directorate and as President of the Alaska Chapter of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

A seasoned researcher and research administrator, Gorsuch has received grants from and/or served as a consultant to such organizations and agencies as: The National Science Foundation, The Ford Foundation, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Wm. H. Donner Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, The U.S. Department of Transportation, The U.S. Department of the Interior, The Bureau of Indian Affairs, The U.S. Department of Agriculture, The U.S. Forest Service, The U.S. Department of Labor, The Bureau of Land Management, The U.S. Department of Commerce as well as numerous private and public companies.

In addition, Gorsuch has assisted many private and public corporations and organizations in strategic planning and organizational development including Commonwealth North, Alaska Airlines, the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation, the Alaska Native Foundation, and the Alaska Military Command.

Gorsuch received his MS Degree in Community Development and his BA Degree in Economics from the University of Missouri and was awarded an honorary doctorate from UAA.