The Board of Trustees at Arcadia University has appointed George Hanks “Hank” Brown, former president of the University of Colorado and U.S. Senator, as interim president. The appointment is effective July 1.

Brown will lead Arcadia while the University continues its national search for its next president.

“Hank Brown brings with him exceptional experience in higher education, and the Board is pleased to have him serve as interim president of Arcadia University,” said Charles Lentz ’03M, chair of the Board of Trustees. “We very much look forward to his leadership as the University moves forward with its national presidential search.”

Since leaving the Senate in 1996, Brown has served as president of the University of Northern Colorado (1998-2002), president of the University of Colorado (2005-2008), and president of the Daniels Fund (2002-2005).

The 21st President Emeritus of the University of Colorado, Brown’s tenure was marked by record growth in enrollment, donations, diversity, and the largest increase in state funding in the University’s history. His leadership was instrumental in increasing the University’s federal research funding to $640 million and reforming its governance process.

In Brown’s four years as president of the University of Northern Colorado, the institution doubled its endowment and set records in enrollment. He streamlined the organizational structure by reducing administrative overhead by $7 million dollars a year and shifted the savings to educational instruction.

Brown is senior counsel in Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck’s Denver office. He is a member of the Government Relations and Natural Resources groups and serves on the Board of Directors of Sensient Technologies Corporation, a leading provider of flavors, colors, and fragrances, and the Daniels Fund, a $1.3 billion foundation.

“I am honored to become interim president of Arcadia University,” said Brown. “I look forward to working alongside the faculty, staff, students, and all members of the University community during my time at Arcadia to advance the vision of the institution.”

Brown served Colorado in the U.S. Senate, in the U.S. House of Representatives, and in the State Senate. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Colorado, a master’s degree in law from George Washington University, and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Colorado School of Law. In 1988, he passed the exam to become a Certified Public Accountant.