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May 10, 2001

Gina Kranitz Selected to Lead Paradise Valley Community College

PHOENIX-- Dr. Fred Gaskin, Chancellor of the Maricopa County Community Colleges, has announced the appointment of Dr. Georgina Kranitz as President of Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC). The appointment becomes effective immediately. Kranitz has served as the college's interim president since May, 1999. On announcing the appointment, Gaskin commented, "Following a very competitive process, Dr. Kranitz emerged as the outstanding choice-a leader with the vision to guide Paradise Valley Community College into the future. In addition, she brings a wealth of career experience and accomplishments within the Maricopa District."

Prior to her position as interim president, she held the post of Dean of Administrative Services at the college. Her thirty-two year career with the district began in 1969 at Glendale Community College. She additionally held posts at the district's central office and at South Mountain Community College, where-during its initial phase-she helped to coordinate the construction of the campus and the establishment of the school's fiscal services office, as well as its maintenance, operations, and administrative services functions. She came to PVCC in 1992 as Dean of Administrative and Student Services.

Kranitz holds a doctor of education degree from Nova Southeastern University and a master's of education degree from Arizona State University. The new college president is active in many community and professional organizations. She is a member of the board of directors of the North Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, where its president, Don Sprigings, commented, "The business community here has had a long history of strong relations with the college and especially over the last couple of years that Gina has been there. We're very pleased for her and the college and excited about the growth that's anticipated at the school." Krantiz, too, is a past chair of the National Association of College and University Business Officers as well as currently serving on the board of directors and its editorial board, and is a member of the Arizona Community College Business Officers Council, the National Council of Community College Business Officers, the American Association of Women in Community Colleges, and the Arizona Community College Presidents' Association.

Dr. Jim Jurs, Superintendent of Paradise Valley Unified School District remarked on the appointment, "From my perspective, it's reassuring that someone who has the long and deep understanding of the community is in a position to continue the good relations between the college and PVUSD." Her additional service work includes serving as past president of the Western Association of College and University Business Officers, and as a member of the Western Association of College Auxiliary Services, the American Association of Community Colleges, the American Association of University Women, the American Executive and Professional Women's Association, the American Association of Women Deans and Counselors, and Phi Theta Kappa, an education honors society.

Locally, Kranitz has been a precinct committeewoman, a member of the Arizona Women's Political Caucus, and a former delegate to the Arizona Presidential Nominating Committee. In 1999, she received the Maricopa Community College's Women's Leadership Distinguished Achievement Award. She has received Distinguished Alumni Achievement Awards from both Nova Southeastern University and Grand Valley State University. For the past three years, she has been selected as one of the top ten women in higher education in the state of Arizona by the Today's Arizona Woman magazine. She and her husband currently reside in Scottsdale.

Bob Bendotti, Dean of Administrative and Instructional Services for the college noted, "Dr. Kranitz's appointment will help the college affirm its commitment to becoming a more learner-centered institution and help us to address our core strategic issues including deepening our connections to the local community."

Located at Union Hills Drive and 32nd Street, Paradise Valley Community College has over 6,000 students currently attending the school, a more than four percent increase over 2000 enrollment. Faculty and staff number 300. Maricopa Community Colleges is the largest multi-college community college district in the nation and the largest provider of higher education in Arizona. The Maricopa County Community College District includes 10 colleges - Chandler-Gilbert Community College, Estrella Mountain Community College, GateWay Community College, Glendale Community College, Mesa Community College, Paradise Valley Community College, Phoenix College, Rio Salado College, Scottsdale Community College and South Mountain College. The District also includes the Maricopa Skill Center, Estrella Mountain Skill Center, several satellite campuses and business/industry, technical and customized training institutes and serves over 264,000 students annually. For more information: 480-731-8000 or www.maricopa.edu.

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March 13, 2002