The interim chief of staff to West Virginia University interim President C. Peter Magrath says he is committed to helping his alma mater move forward in this period of transition.

John J.K.JayCole, a native of Fairmont and 1994 graduate of WVU , assumed the duties of senior staff officer on an interim basis today (Aug. 1) at a salary of $150,000. Today was also Magraths first official day on the job.

I am honored that President Magrath has given me this opportunity to serve him, my alma mater and my home state as WVU s interim chief of staff,said the 36-year-old Cole, who is taking a leave from his job as director of federal policy for the College Board while at WVU .During this transitional period, I look forward to helping to make a great land-grant university even better.

Magrath said he has been impressed with Coles work at the College Board and thought he would be a natural fit for his chief of staff. Magrath is senior adviser to the College Board.

Jay Cole and Iby chancebecame neighbors in our College Board offices, and I learned about his love for West Virginia and its flagship university,Magrath said.He wants to serve WVU by helping me, and I am delighted he will do so as we all press ahead.

Prior to joining the College Board, Cole was education policy adviser to Gov. Joe Manchin from 2005-07 and deputy secretary of education and the arts and senior policy adviser for former Gov. Bob Wise from 2001-05.

He earned bachelors degrees with honors in political science and history from WVU and a masters degree in educational policy and leadership from The Ohio State University. He is completing a doctorate in higher education and public policy at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

As an undergraduate at WVU , Cole was named the schools 13th Truman Scholar, the nations most prestigious academic award for college students who plan to pursue a career in public service.

While at Ohio State, Cole was awarded a 1995-96 Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship from the U.S. Department of Education. At Michigan, he held a five-year Spencer Foundation Fellowship for doctoral study. He was an International Leader delegate to the European Union Visitors Program in 2005 and a 2007 Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the National Academy of Sciences.

He is co-author of a RAND monograph on higher education philanthropy, a book chapter on state higher education policy, a journal article on assessment and numerous conference presentations in the United States and Europe. He also served as assistant editor of the Association for the Study of Higher Educations 2001 Reader on Higher Education Finance and participated as a member of the National Science Foundations Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research 2020 panel on the future of the program.

Cole is a member of the Southern Regional Education Board and the steering and nominating committees of the Education Commission of the States.

Colleagues and associates are expressing support for Coles appointment.

WVU is fortunate to have a man of Jay Coles experience, depth of knowledge, character and integrity assume an important role in the presidents office,said Tom Rudin, senior vice president for government relations, advocacy and development at the College Board.While we will miss his presence at the College Boardand will eagerly await his return when his appointment endswe know he will be a tremendous asset to Peter Magrath and the leadership team at WVU .

From academic research to international education to service learning, Jay has played a crucial and leading role in shaping West Virginias higher education policy landscape,said Dennis Taylor, vice chancellor for administration and finance for the state Higher Education Policy Commission and the Council for Community and Technical Colleges.He is an extraordinary choice to implement the vision of President C. Peter Magrath and the West Virginia University Board of Governors.

Mary Ellen Mazey, dean of the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, said,We are fortunate Jay Cole has been chosen by interim President Magrath to be WVU s chief of staff. He has an extensive knowledge of higher education in West Virginia, and with his work at the College Board, he is well-versed on higher education at the national level.

Cole is married to Lisa DeFrank-Cole, coordinator of the ASPIRE office in the WVU Honors College .

Craig Walker, chief of staff to former President Mike Garrison, left his post, effective today (Aug. 1), and will assist with the transition through the end of August.