[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 56 (Tuesday, May 3, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E851]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING CHANCELLOR JAMES H. MULLEN, JR. AND HIS SERVICE TO THE 
  UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE AND WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES H. TAYLOR

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 3, 2005

  Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in grateful recognition of Dr. 
James H. Mullen, Jr., Chancellor of the University of North Carolina at 
Asheville. Dr. Mullen, who has served as Chancellor since July 1999, 
will leave UNC Asheville in July 2005. As an incredible advocate of 
excellence in liberal arts education and a proponent of community 
partnerships, Chancellor Mullen leaves a legacy of achievement at the 
University of North Carolina at Asheville that will surely be missed.
  Under his leadership, Chancellor Mullen has advanced UNC Asheville's 
national prominence in public liberal arts education. UNC Asheville is 
ranked fourth among the nation's 21 public liberal arts universities by 
U.S. News & WorId Report magazine, has been a ``best buy'' in the Fiske 
Guide to Colleges for 11 years, and is one of just 81 colleges included 
in the ``America's Best College Values.''
  Among the notable University initiatives begun during his service the 
past six years are the Pisgah Astronomical Research, Science and 
Education Center, a collaboration that has created a national radio 
astronomy observatory and education center; the National Environmental 
Modeling and Analysis Center, which partners academia, governmental 
agencies, non-profit organizations, and businesses in the area of 
prediction and analysis of air, land and water environmental data; the 
Craft Campus, that will provide a much-needed facility for its 
students, will serve as a national model for green building, and add to 
the region's growing craft economy; and the North Carolina Center for 
Health and Wellness Promotion, a unique academic and outreach program 
that will focus on regional problems of childhood obesity, workplace 
wellness and senior wellness.
  During his tenure, the University has also undertaken a $49 million, 
bond-funded capital construction program. The new Highsmith University 
Union opened in Fall 2004 and the new Carmichael Hall classroom 
building will open in Fall 2005. Under way are the new Zeis Science and 
Multimedia Arts classroom building, a facilities management complex, 
and renovations to the Zageir Hall classroom building. Through other 
funding sources, the University also completed the Governors Hall 
residence hall and the Reuter Center, home to the North Carolina Center 
for Creative Retirement.
  Dr. Mullen has also overseen the development of new and innovative 
academic and co-curricular programs, such as Integrative Liberal 
Studies, which is a new and innovative approach to general education.
  Perhaps Chancellor Mullen's most valued legacy is his strong personal 
relationship with students, in whom he vested his confidence, trust and 
hope for the future. Dr. Mullen has always demonstrated an intense 
personal interest in all students, attending organization meetings, 
joining students for lunch in the Dining Hall, for chats on the Quad 
and for an occasional tag football game.
  On behalf of North Carolina's Eleventh District, I would like to 
thank Chancellor Mullen for his dedicated service to the students at 
the University of North Carolina at Asheville and wish him the best of 
luck and success as he becomes Chancellor at The College of Our Lady of 
the Elms in Massachusetts.




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