July 11, 1999

Dixon unanimously re-elected Chairman for 17th consecutive term

Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu

The State System of Higher Education’s Board of Governors has unanimously re-elected F. Eugene Dixon, Jr., to a 17^th consecutive term as its chairman.

Mr. Dixon of Lafayette Hill has served as Board chairman since the System’s inception in 1983.

“It is an honor to continue to serve the State System of Higher Education,” Mr. Dixon said. “Our universities have grown tremendously in stature over these last 16 years.

“All of the Board members with whom I have served during that time have helped to move the System toward a goal of excellence. I am grateful to the current Board members for their continued confidence in my leadership, and look forward to serving another term as chairman.”

State Sen. F. Joseph Loeper of Drexel Hill chaired the nominating committee that recommended Mr. Dixon for another term as Board chair.

“Mr. Dixon has provided the kind of steady leadership needed to allow the State System to grow into one of the finest public university systems in the nation,” Sen. Loeper said. “His commitment is greatly appreciated, and I am certain he will continue to offer outstanding service.”

The Board of Governors also re-elected its two vice chairs.

R. Benjamin Wiley of Erie was re-elected to a fourth one-year term and Kim E. Lyttle of Pittsburgh was chosen to the position for a third straight year. Both Mr. Wiley and Mr. Lyttle have been members of the Board since 1995.

The 20-member Board of Governors has overall responsibility for administering the State System, which comprises Pennsylvania’s 14 state-owned universities. The Board establishes broad fiscal, personnel and educational policies under which the universities operate.

Mr. Dixon has a long history of volunteer service to both public and private higher education in the Commonwealth, having previously chaired the boards of both Temple and Widener universities. He also has served on the boards of both the University of Pennsylvania and Lafayette College.

Mr. Dixon also has been a member of dozens of other boards and commissions, having served as chairman or president of several, including the Fairmount Park Commission, Delaware River Port Authority, Philadelphia Art Commission and the State Horse Racing Commission.

He is a limited partner in the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team. Previously, Mr. Dixon owned the Philadelphia 76ers basketball team and the Philadelphia Wings indoor lacrosse team.

Mr. Wiley is executive director of the Greater Erie Community Action Committee (GECAC), a position he has held for more than 25 years. GECAC is a non-profit corporation that provides a variety of community service activities involving child and youth development, transportation, housing, food and nutrition, education, employment and training, drug and alcohol abuse treatment and services for the elderly. GECAC manages an annual budget of approximately $18 million.

Mr. Wiley also is extremely active in the Erie community and has received numerous awards from civic organizations. In 1993, he received both the AFL-CIO’s Community Service Award presented by the Erie Central Labor Council and the first President’s Leadership Award for Business and Community Service presented by the Erie Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Wiley was appointed to the Board of Governors four years ago by Gov. Tom Ridge. He has been a member of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania’s Council of Trustees since 1983, serving as its chair from 1994 to earlier this year.

Mr. Lyttle is vice president of public affairs for National City Bank of Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh. He also oversees National City’s corporate giving program, community development and governmental relations activities.

He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Fund for the Advancement of the State System of Higher Education, Inc. and the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB).

Mr. Lyttle also was appointed to the Board of Governors by Ridge. He also has served on Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Council of Trustees since 1983.