Saint Paul - Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Robert J. Jones to the Midwestern Higher Education Commission. 

Robert J. Jones is the Senior Vice President for System Administration at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.  He has held this position since 2004.  From 2002 to 2004, he served as Vice President and Executive Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Programs at the University.  Jones has been a Professor at the University of Minnesota since 1988, and currently serves as a full faculty member of the Plant Biological Sciences Graduate Program. 

Jones received a B.S. in Agronomy from Fort Valley State College in Fort Valley, Georgia, a M.S. in Crop Physiology from the University of Georgia, and a Ph.D. in Crop Physiology from the University of Missouri.  He is appointed to a four-year term which ends January 5, 2009.  Jones replaces William Hogan on the Commission

The Midwestern Higher Education Commission is a nonprofit regional organization established by interstate compact and devoted to achieving greater cost effectiveness in higher education.  The Commission serves 853 public and private nonprofit colleges, universities, community colleges, and technical colleges in ten member states.  The Commission is made up of five members from each state, including three gubernatorial appointees, one State Senator, and one State Representative.