Chancellor and Board of Regents Complete Reorganization of Key Staff
Atlanta — June 13, 2001
Chancellor Stephen R. Portch today announced the permanent appointments of two senior vice chancellors and a vice chancellor, all of whom have been serving in their positions at the Board of Regents on an interim basis since Portch reorganized his executive staff last year. The appointments, effective July 1, include:
Thomas E. Daniel of Atlanta, who was named senior vice chancellor for external activities and facilities.
“Tom Daniel’s dedicated service, knowledge of external issues, political savvy and communication skills are key elements in the University System’s legislative arsenal,” said Portch.
Daniel, who received his interim appointment last July, is a long-time administrator in the governing office of the 34-campus University System, having begun his USG tenure as special assistant to the chancellor in 1982. He joined the Board of Regents after helping to coordinate the successful election campaigns of two Georgia governors.
Daniel entered politics after earning a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1974 from the University of Georgia, launching his career as a member of the George Busbee for Governor campaign staff. He went on to serve as administrative assistant for Gov. Busbee from 1975 to 1978, and later managed his 1978 re-election campaign. He continued to serve as his administrative assistant until leaving to help coordinate Gov. Joe Frank Harris’ successful gubernatorial bid in 1981-82. At that point, he joined the Board of Regents, serving as special/executive assistant to the chancellor from December 1982 until July 1988, when he was named vice chancellor of external affairs for the Board of Regents. He kept this title until his appointment as interim senior vice chancellor last summer. In each of these capacities, Daniel has led and overseen the 性视界APP’s governmental affairs activities and communication with the members of the Georgia General Assembly and other key constituencies.
Corlis Cummings of Stone Mountain, who was named senior vice chancellor for support services.
Portch calls Cummings “a consummate professional who has demonstrated a superior ability to marshal the staff in order to accomplish key System objectives.”
Last October, Portch chose Cummings as the interim head of the new Support Services division, composed of Legal Affairs, Human Resources and the Internal Audit divisions, which support the entire University System.
Cummings joined the Board of Regents in 1995 as assistant vice chancellor for legal affairs, in charge of contracts. In this capacity, she negotiated software agreements, drafted contract policy for the board and developed the intellectual property guidelines and procedures used by many USG campuses. She also provided legal counsel to University System administrators, faculty and staff in areas of actual and potential legal liability, and interpreted federal and state laws, regulations and rules.
Before joining the Board of Regents, Cummings served an assistant city attorney with the City of Atlanta from 1991 to 1995. Prior to that, Cummings was an associate with the South Carolina law firm of Nelson, Mullins, Riley & Scarborough. She holds a law degree and a bachelor’s degree, both from the University of Georgia.
William R. Bowes of Kennesaw, Ga., who was named vice chancellor for fiscal affairs. Bowes is responsible for managing the annual budget development and allocation process for the University System and for overseeing the development and implementation of the Board of Regents’ fiscal policies and procedures.
“Bill has demonstrated a keen ability to manage the financial affairs of such a large and complex public system of higher education,” Portch said.
Before his interim appointment last October, Bowes served as associate vice chancellor for fiscal affairs, a position he held since being hired by the Board of Regents in 1995. Bowes has more than 20 years’ experience in public higher education. He began his career in public higher education with the Department of Higher Education in Connecticut, where he rose to assistant commissioner for financial affairs. In this position, he led the development of state fiscal policy in the areas of formula funding, tuition and fees, capital project planning and student financial assistance. He was vice president for finance and administration at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, Ct., from 1988 to 1995. He also has held positions with the Suffolk County (N.Y.) Legislative Budget Review Office and the Office of Fiscal Analysis in the Connecticut General Assembly.
Bowes holds a master’s degree in urban and policy sciences from the State University of New York in Stony Brook and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Hofstra University.