Graceland University Names Menzies President

LAMONI, IOWA - John K. Menzies, U.S. ambassador recognized for his peace efforts in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo, has been named president of Graceland University. Menzies captured international attention for his work in the Balkans and for his role in the run-up to the 1995 Dayton negotiations. Ambassador Menzies is currently chief of mission at the U.S. office in Kosovo.

In an award nomination in 1996, the assistant secretary of state for European and Canadian Affairs characterized Menzies' work in these terms, "There are people--Bosnians, Croats, Serbs--alive today because of John Menzies."

The university's board of trustees announced Menzies' appointment early this week. He will become the sixteenth president of the 107-year-old institution this fall.

"In accepting the appointment," John said, "I am excited, honored, and humbled by the trust of the board and the Graceland community."

A 20-year foreign service officer, Menzies served in Hungary, East Germany, and Bulgaria. He also served in the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York and in Washington in a variety of capacities in the office of the coordinator for the Support for East European Democracy (SEED) program. For two years he was a Jennings Randolph Senior Fellow at the United States Institute of Peace where he led the Balkan working group. He subsequently served as coordinator of humanitarian assistance for Kosovo for the European Bureau, director of the Kosovo Implementation Office, and deputy special advisor to the president and secretary of state for Kosovo.

Menzies attended Graceland University; the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, where he earned a B.A. and M.A.; and the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a Ph.D. in German.

While serving in Sofia, he founded the American University in Bulgaria in 1991.

He has received the Department of State Superior Honor Award, an American Bar Association Award for dedication and service toward advancing the rule of law, several honorary degrees, and the Bulgarian Order of the Madarsky Konek.

"We are extremely pleased that Graceland University will be led by someone of Ambassador Menzies' preparation and accomplishments," said David J. Robino, chair of the university's Board of Trustees.  "He will advance our cherished values and traditions well into Graceland's future."

A member of Community of Christ since childhood, John grew up in a church appointee home. His family--Jim, Del, and two sons--moved frequently, assigned to many parts of the U.S. and spent several years in England.

John gave the keynote address at the church's World Conference where he was awarded the International Human Rights Award in 2000. He holds the priesthood office of Seventy and has served in the pastorate of several congregations.