Bowling Green State University Dean Cruz Is New NAEYC President

For more information, contact
Alan Simpson at NAEYC
202-328-2605 or asimpson@naeyc.org

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 11, 2005—Josué Cruz Jr., Professor and Dean of the College of Education and Human Development at Bowling Green State University (BGSU) in Ohio, has been appointed President of the Governing Board of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) - the nation's largest and most influential organization of early childhood educators. He will take office on June 1, 2005

"In my many years as a member, I have watched NAEYC grow into a thriving association that is now setting the standards for the care and education of all children," said Cruz. "I am honored to be selected as NAEYC President, and I look forward to working with NAEYC leaders, and the early childhood professional community as a whole, to help this nation develop effective strategies for improving the quality of life for all young children."

Cruz previously served as Secretary and Vice President of the Governing Board and has chaired and/or served on more than twenty of its panels and committees. He is a former Fulbright Scholar and currently serves on the national committee for the Rivera Children's Book Award, advisory boards of Nick Jr and Bright Horizons Family Solutions, the executive board of the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), and as President of the Governing Board of the Council for Professional Recognition. Cruz held faculty and administrative positions at the University of Virginia, The Ohio State University, and University of South Florida prior to joining Bowling Green Sate University as Professor and Dean.

Cruz was appointed by the NAEYC Governing Board to fill the remainder of the term of Dwayne Crompton, who resigned as President this spring because of ongoing personal health concerns. Cruz will serve as President until June 2006, and then as Past President for one year.

"Josué Cruz Jr., has already devoted many years of service to the Association and the early childhood profession, and he will once again bring great knowledge, skills and experience to the NAEYC Governing Board," said Mark R. Ginsberg, Ph.D. and Executive Director of NAEYC.

The National Association for the Education of Young Children is an organization of teachers and others dedicated to improving the quality of early education programs for children from birth through age eight. Founded in 1926, NAEYC now has nearly 100,000 members, and a national network of 350 local, state, and regional affiliates. NAEYC and its affiliates work to improve professional practice and working conditions in early childhood education, and to build public support for high-quality early childhood programs.