James Milliken (college president)

James Bennett Milliken (born 1957) is the Chancellor of the University of Texas System. He is the former Chancellor of the City University of New York, the largest urban university system in the U.S. from 2014 to 2018, after serving as president of the University of Nebraska from 2004 to 2014, where he was also a professor at the School of Public Affairs and at the College of Law.[1] He served as senior vice president of the University of North Carolina's 16-campus system from 1998 to 2004. Before his career in academic administration, Milliken practiced law in New York City.[2][3]

James Milliken
Chancellor of University of Texas System
Incumbent
Assumed office September 17, 2018
Preceded by	Adm. William H. McRaven
Chancellor of City University of New York
In office June 1, 2014 – May 31, 2018
Preceded by	Matthew Goldstein
Succeeded by	Felix V. Matos Rodriguez
President of University of Nebraska
In office August 1, 2004 – May 31, 2014
Preceded by	L. Dennis Smith
Succeeded by	Hank M. Bounds
Personal details
Born	James Bennett Milliken 1957 (age 63–64) Fremont, Nebraska
Spouse(s)	Nana Graves Hilliard Smith
Alma mater	University of Nebraska–Lincoln New York University
Profession	Academic administrator, professor, attorney

Early life and education

Milliken was raised in Fremont, Nebraska. He received his bachelor of arts degree with distinction from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, in 1979.

After graduating from UNL, he spent a year working in Washington, D.C. as legislative assistant to Congresswoman Virginia D. Smith, R-Neb, who represented Nebraska's 3rd congressional district from 1975 to 1991.[4] Milliken earned a law degree in 1983 from New York University School of Law; he was a Root-Tilden Scholar and research assistant to Professor Norman Dorsen, then-president of the American Civil Liberties Union. After graduating from NYU Law, Milliken worked for the Legal Aid Society's Civil Division in New York City, then as an attorney at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft.[5]

Career

Milliken returned to Nebraska in 1988 where he accepted the position of executive assistant to the president of the University of Nebraska, and he was subsequently appointed Secretary to the Board of Regents and Vice President for External Affairs.[6]

In 1998, Milliken was appointed by then-president of the University of North Carolina, Molly Corbett Broad to lead university-wide strategy, institutional research, state and federal relations, public affairs, and economic development.[7] In 2000, Milliken helped pass a statewide referendum for a $3.1 billion bond issue for university and community college facilities.[8]

Milliken was appointed president of the University of Nebraska in 2004. He worked to expand access and launched CollegeBound Nebraska, which provided free tuition to Nebraska Pell Grant recipients, University of Nebraska Online Worldwide, and Nebraska Innovation Campus, a public-private research and development park located on the former state fair grounds next to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus.[9][2] He subsequently led a $1.8 billion capital campaign,[10] funding new institutes for early childhood (Buffett Early Childhood Institute), global food and water sustainability (Daugherty Water for Food Institute) and rural sustainability (Rural Futures Institute).[2] Milliken also helped lead the Nebraska P-16 Initiative to improve primary education and increase college preparation.[11] He expanded the University's global reach, establishing new programs, with universities, the private sector and government, in China, India, Brazil and Turkey.

Milliken became Chancellor of the City University of New York in 2014, and held the position through 2018.[12] During his time as Chancellor, there has been federal and state investigations of institutional corruption at the university.[13] In November 2016, an interim report of an investigation conducted by the office of New York State Inspector General found "financial waste and abuse", citing shoddy oversight and mismanagement that created a system ripe for financial waste and abuse, and criticized Milliken and CUNY General Counsel Frederick Schaffer, among others, for failing to "effectively operate" the university system.[14][15] During the year preceding Milliken's resignation, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo replaced CUNY Board of Trustees chairmen Benno C. Schmidt Jr. with a new chairmen Bill Thompson, and nearly all of the members of CUNY's board of trustees with a new politically prominent bloc, about whom Milliken said, "will have their own ideas about CUNY, and they should have the opportunity to help shape the leadership and agenda for the future."[16] After state and federal investigation into financial irregularities in the CUNY system went public, top CUNY officials left their posts, beginning with the former president of the City College of New York Lisa Staiano-Coico; CUNY Vice Chancellor of Legal Affairs and General Counsel Frederick P. Frederick P. ("Rick") Schaffer; CUNY Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer Allan H. Dobrin; CUNY Vice Chancellor for Research Gillian Small; and CUNY Senior Vice Chancellor of University Relations Jay Hershenson.[17][18][19]

Milliken is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations,[20] Business Higher Education Forum,[21] and on the executive committee of the Council on Competitiveness.[22] He formerly served as a director on the board of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU), and led the Commission on Innovation, Competition and Economic Prosperity.[23]

Personal life

Since 1989, Milliken has been married to Nana Graves Hilliard Smith, a graduate of Yale University, and New York University School of Law.[24] They have three children.

References

1. Who's Who in the Midwest, 38th, 39th Editions; Who's Who in America, 66th, 67th, 68th Editions
2. Perry, Kate Howard (January 15, 2014). "Leaving NU: J.B. Milliken praised as he looks toward future with CUNY system". Omaha World-Herald.
3. Chen, David W. (November 21, 2017). "Head of City University Will Step Down". Retrieved March 22, 2018 – via NYTimes.com.
4. "James B. ("J.B.") Milliken - Phi Delta Theta". www.phidelt.com. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
5. "James Milliken '83 tapped as new chancellor of City University of New York - NYU School of Law". www.law.nyu.edu. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
6. Bryant, Kimberly (June 8, 2004). "Milliken named University of Nebraska president". The Gateway.
7. Dunker, Chris (April 27, 2014). "Milliken's tenure a fusion of NU's growth, public's confidence". Lincoln Journal Star.
8. Jenkins, Nate (April 29, 2004). "Milliken has experience, roots in state". Lincoln Journal Star.
9. Messina, Judith. "People to Watch in Higher Education".
10. Lee, Melissa (October 28, 2014). "Campaign for Nebraska tops $1.8 billion". University of Nebraska Medical Center.
11. Ginn, Jennifer. "P-16 initiatives, other state-led partnerships hold key to higher-ed reform, MLC panelists say".
13. Chen, David W. (November 15, 2016). "Lapses by CUNY Officials Made System 'Ripe for Abuse,' Report Says". Retrieved March 22, 2018 – via NYTimes.com.
14. "IG says CUNY broke law; CICU head to resign". Politico PRO. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
15. "Cuomo orders CUNY board to review university's 'entire senior management'". Retrieved March 22, 2018.
16. Dunker, Chris. "Former NU president Milliken stepping down from CUNY". Retrieved March 22, 2018.
17. Chen, David W. (November 23, 2016). "Cuomo Seizes On City College Scandal to Revive Push to Revamp CUNY". Retrieved March 22, 2018 – via NYTimes.com.
18. http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20161204/POLITICS/161209957/cuny-shakeup-can-be-seen-as-an-effort-by-cuny-chancellor-james-milliken-to-keep-his-own-job
19. "CUNY probe widens". April 5, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
20. "Council on Foreign Relations Membership Roster". Council on Foreign Relations. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
21. "BHEF Members". Business Higher Education Forum. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
22. "Council on Competitiveness Board". The Council on Competitiveness. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
23. Lee, Melissa (August 9, 2009). "Send e-mail, earn degree: NU hopes to catch up in race for online students". Lincoln Journal Star.
24. "Nana Smith Wed To James Milliken". Retrieved March 22, 2018.