President Jones Named Co-Chair of Capital Region Economic Development Council

ALBANY, N.Y. (January 29, 2013) — UAlbany President Dr. Robert Jones has been appointed the new Regional Council Co-chair for the Capital Region Economic Development Council (CREDC). Dr. Jones will lead the regional council in collaboration with council co-chair and Albany Medical Center President James J. Barba, filling the position vacated by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute President Shirley Ann Jackson.

President Robert Jones

“We are pleased to welcome President Jones to the position of Capital Region Economic Development Council Co-chair alongside Mr. Barba,” said New York State Lieutenant Governor Robert Duffy. “President Jones has more than 30 years of experience in higher education leadership and will be an invaluable asset to the Council as Regional Council Co-chair.

"Governor Cuomo has emphasized the importance of maximizing our partnerships with higher education to grow New York’s economy and create jobs, and President Jones will play a critical role in advancing the CREDC’s strategies and goals toward this end. On behalf of Governor Cuomo and New York State, I thank Dr. Jackson for her hard work and dedication to the state’s economic development efforts and congratulate Dr. Jones on his new leadership position.”

Robert Jones assumed the presidency of UAlbany this month. He has more than three decades of higher education leadership experience as well as academic expertise in numerous fields, including urban and international development. Previous to his appointment to the University at Albany, he served as senior vice president for academic administration at the University of Minnesota System. In this position, he was responsible for oversight of a broad portfolio of programs and initiatives that provide core support for academic programs across the University of Minnesota system. Prior, Jones served more than 15 years in key administrative leadership positions at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, including vice president and executive vice provost for faculty and academic programs, vice president for campus life and vice provost for faculty and academic personnel, and interim vice president for student development.

Jones held a gubernatorial appointment as a commissioner of the Midwestern Higher Education Compact and served on the board of directors for the Midwest Universities Consortium for International Activities. Currently, he serves on the boards of the Coalition of Urban Serving Universities and the Bush Foundation, among other leadership roles.

“I am honored to assume this role as co-chair of this very important and essential economic development council. I look forward to serving the region and New York State by working alongside Albany Medical Center President James Barba to enhance the region’s economic vitality,” said Jones.

“The thoughtful and intelligent approach I have witnessed in all of my interactions with President Jones, as well as his fresh view, will serve our Council and our eight-county region well,” said Albany Medical Center President and CREDC Co-Chair James J. Barba. “I look forward to working in partnership with him to advance Governor Cuomo’s transformative approach to economic development throughout our region and across the state.”

The Capital Region was awarded $62.7 million in state support through the first round of the Regional Economic Development Council initiative and CFA process for 88 projects across the region. Ninety percent of these projects are on target for a timely completion.

In December 2012, Cuomo announced $738 million has been awarded statewide through Round Two of the Regional Economic Development Council initiative. CREDC was awarded $50.3 million for 84 community revitalization and economic development projects.

To learn more about each regional council and their economic development plans, visit www.nyworks.ny.gov. For information on how the New New York is working for business, please visit www.thenewny.com.

For more news, subscribe to UAlbany's RSS headline feeds