SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 545
WHEREAS, James D. Spaniolo is retiring as president of The
University of Texas at Arlington after nearly a decade of
exemplary service; and
WHEREAS, Jim Spaniolo became the seventh president of The
University of Texas at Arlington in 2004, and under his skillful
leadership, the university has experienced considerable growth
in enrollment and has created more than 100 new faculty
positions; the school has also benefited from a three-fold
increase in its research expenditures, which now total more than
$70 million, and private donations to the school have quadrupled;
moreover, Mr. Spaniolo has overseen construction and renovation
projects for over a dozen buildings, with new facilities that
include an expansive engineering and science research complex
and a 7,000-seat special events center; and
WHEREAS, This noteworthy administrator holds a bachelor's
degree in political science from Michigan State University and
both a master's degree in public administration and a juris
doctorate from the University of Michigan; he began his career in
law and served as associate general counsel for the American
Newspaper Publishers Association, in addition to founding its
legal department; in 1977, Mr. Spaniolo joined Knight-Ridder,
Inc., as an attorney and newspaper executive, and after more than
a decade in that position, he became the vice president and chief
program officer of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation,
the largest media-related private foundation in the country; and
WHEREAS, In 1996, Mr. Spaniolo was appointed dean of the
College of Communication Arts and Sciences at Michigan State
University; during his eight-year tenure there, he oversaw five
departments, more than 100 faculty and staff, nearly 4,000
students, and an annual budget exceeding $10 million; along the
way, he helped to establish the college's Quello Center for
Telecommunication Management and Law and served as a professor in
the School of Journalism; and
WHEREAS, A respected member of the North Texas community
for the past nine years, Mr. Spaniolo serves on the executive
committee of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce and is a board
member for numerous other area organizations, including the
North Texas Commission, the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation, and
North Texas Leaders and Executives Advocating Diversity; and
WHEREAS, The University of Texas at Arlington has
benefited immeasurably from the vision, dedication, and
expertise of President James Spaniolo, and his contributions
will continue to resonate in the years to come; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 83rd
Legislature, hereby congratulate James D. Spaniolo on his
retirement as president of The University of Texas at Arlington
and extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it
further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
prepared for Mr. Spaniolo as an expression of high regard by the
Texas Senate.
Hancock Hancock
Hancock
Birdwell Duncan West Birdwell Duncan West
Birdwell Duncan West
Davis Nelson Zaffirini Davis Nelson Zaffirini
Davis Nelson Zaffirini
Seliger Seliger
Seliger
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Member, Texas Senate Member, Texas Senate
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Member, Texas Senate Member, Texas Senate
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Member, Texas Senate Member, Texas Senate
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Member, Texas Senate Member, Texas Senate
______________________________
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on March 26, 2013.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
Hancock
Birdwell Duncan West
Davis Nelson Zaffirini
Seliger