Dr. John Haeger President John D. Haeger leads Northern Arizona University in its commitment to undergraduate education-a c o m m i t m e n t enhanced by the university's ongoing efforts in research, graduate education and distance learning. Dr. Haeger has been NAU president since November 2001 after joining the university to serve as NAU provost in June 2000. During his term as president, Dr. Haeger has guided the university to new heights in student enrollment. He also has ushered the university into its largest building boom since the 22year term of former NAU President J. Lawrence Walkup. Further, he has fully endorsed a national effort to increase institutional accountability, explaining that NAU must perform on a level that demonstrates its significance to students and to society. Among university achievements under his leadership: • Tuition guarantee. Dr. Haeger instituted a "block tuition" plan that guarantees first-time, full-time freshmen and transfer students the same tuition rate for eight semesters. • Access and affordability. NAU has
partnership with 15 community colleges throughout the state. The initiative streamlines the credit transfer process, allowing students enrolled at partnering community colleges to save time and money by being admitted to NAU while they are earning an associate degree. • Innovation. NAU-Yavapai opened its Prescott Valley doors last fall, allowing students to earn bachelor’s degrees at about one-third the cost of a traditional, residential college experience. The savings comes from offering a limited number of degree options and using existing resources through NAU’s Flagstaff campus. The cost-saving model garnered the attention of Gov. Jan Brewer, who called it “visionary” and “an example for the entire state and the nation.” • Expansion of nursing and the health professions. The university has placed emphasis on graduating more students in nursing and developing or expanding programs in occupational therapy, athletic training and physicians assistant. • Commitment to research. President Haeger has instituted NAU's first office of Vice President for Research. In Yuma, a 12,225-squarefoot building that will provide research four-year degree opportunities. • High Country Conference Center. Dr. Haeger initiated a joint partnership
between the city of Flagstaff, Drury Hotels and Sodexo to build a 42,000square-foot conference center and an adjoining hotel and parking structure. Consultants have estimated the economic benefit to northern Arizona to be about $7 million annually. • 1899 Bar & Grill. The university has opened an upscale steakhouse in the old north union that is open to the public and complements the conference center • Largest gift in university history. The College of Business Administration was able to acquire the largest gift in university history, a $25 million donation from prominent business leader William Franke. The college was renamed The W.A. Franke College of Business. • Arizona Cardinals partnership. The Cardinals agreed to continue their training camp in Flagstaff. About $7 million will be added to the northern Arizona economy as a result. Dr. Haeger is a member Arizona Board of Education, the Governor's P20 Council, the board of directors of the Translational Genomics Research Institute, is former chair of the United Way of Northern Arizona board, serves as commissioner for the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, and is past chair of the Council of Presidents of the Big Sky Conference.
BETH VECHINSKI Associate AD/Internal Beth Vechinski was named the associate athletics director for internal operations in December 2012. She is in her 11th year with the Northern Arizona University athletic department. She now oversees the business operations, facilities and the video department while serving as the sport supervisor for the Lumberjack golf, swimming and diving and volleyball programs. She previously coordinated the external operations and served as the senior woman administrator since August 2009. During that time, she oversaw the game management, marketing, media relations and video departments while serving as the sport supervisor for soccer, swimming and diving and volleyball programs. Prior to the promotion, she served as the assistant athletics director for marketing and promotions for three years after serving four years as the marketing and promotions director for the department. In her external role, she directed the day-to-day operations of the marketing department as well as duties with the statewide
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Lumberjack Radio Network, securing all network sponsorship and corporate sponsorship sales. Vechinski also directed the operation of the Lumberjack stunt and dance programs. She also worked closely with athletic development in identifying and cultivating donors for the annual scholarship fund and major gifts. Under her direction, the corporate sales of the athletic department generated significant revenue in 2008-2009, highlighted by partnerships with Pepsi Bottling Company and the Summit Center, both Flagstaff-based companies and primary sponsors of the scoreboard system. Overall, Vechinski has attracted participation from numerous local, state, regional and national corporations. She previously worked for the Mudville Nine baseball team, the Class A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. The San Diego, Calif., native oversees all promotional efforts for the athletics department’s 15 varsity sports and is responsible for implementing the department’s marketing plan and securing sponsors and advertisers for the department. She graduated from the University of the Pacific with a degree in sport sciences and earned her master’s in business administration from Northern Arizona in May 2004.
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