(Posted November 13, 2012)

Jim Lakso, provost at Juniata College
Jim Lakso, provost at Juniata College

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- James Lakso, provost at Juniata College and professor of economics, was awarded the 2012 Chief Academic Officer Award from the Council of Independent Colleges, "in recognition of service to CIC colleagues and their colleges."

Lakso accepted the award at the CIC's Institute for Chief Academic Officers, held Nov. 3-6, 2012 in San Antonio, Texas. The award, delivered at the Institute for Chief Academic Officers, is presented each year to an administrator who advances academic excellence at private colleges and universities.

"Jim Lakso's service to Juniata is so extensive that it is impossible to list, but for me his work has meant that Juniata's faculty and educational programs are second to none," says Thomas R. Kepple, president at Juniata.

In 2010, Lakso was honored by the college and countless former students when Juniata raised almost $1 million to create the James J. Lakso Endowment for Faculty Excellence, which will provide annual funding for faculty development. In addition, the college also named its recently established teaching center the James J. Lakso Center for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.

Lakso has been an influential teacher during his entire career at Juniata and received the 2005 Beachley Award for Distinguished Academic Service and the 1983 Beachley Distinguished Professor Award.

In 2010, Lakso was honored by the college and countless former students when Juniata raised almost $1 million to create the James J. Lakso Endowment for Faculty Excellence, which will provide annual funding for faculty development.

He also served as an adjunct business faculty member at St. Francis University and has been a business consultant for such area businesses as Kish Bank. He also remains active at St. James Lutheran Church, the Huntingdon Lions Club and Huntingdon County Business and Industry. He serves on the board for Kish Bank.

Lakso, a Huntingdon, Pa. resident, joined the Juniata faculty in 1970 after earning a master's degree in economics from the University of Maryland. He continued his doctoral work while teaching at Juniata and earned his doctorate in economics in 1973. He earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Wittenberg, University in 1967. Lakso was named provost in 1998 and continues to teach macroeconomics each year.

Before becoming provost, Lakso served a year as interim provost after being name to the position by former Juniata President Robert Neff. He came to Juniata as an instructor and was promoted to assistant professor in 1972 and to associate professor in 1976. He was promoted to full professor in 1981. He also has worked in administrative roles at the college, including stints as assistant academic dean, director of summer sessions, chair of the economics department and academic dean of social sciences.

He is a member of the American Economic Association and Alpha Tau Omega.

The Council of Independent Colleges is an association of approximately 500 independent colleges and universities working together to strengthen college and university leadership, sustain high-quality education, and enhance private higher education's contributions to society. CIC provides its members with skills, tools, and knowledge that address aspects of leadership, financial management and performance, academic quality, and institutional visibility.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.