Constantine W. Curris
Dr. Constantine Curris
assumed the presidency of the American Association of State Colleges and
Universities in October 1999. He is the fourth chief executive for AASCU – a
national association of more than 400 public colleges and universities.
Curris, a Kentucky native, has served as president at three universities: Murray State University (Kentucky) for 10 years, the University of Northern Iowa for 12 years, and Clemson University (South Carolina) for more than four years until his selection as AASCU’s president. The Murray State Student Center and the Northern Iowa Business Building bear Curris’ name.
He is a strong advocate for public higher education and its students and a proponent of the qualitative strengthening of higher education institutions in order to meet public needs and expectations in the 21st century. Curris has been associated with AASCU since 1973 as a member of several Association committees, its Board of Directors and in 1995 as Chairman of the Board.
Other professional experiences for Curris include appointments to the 1998 Commission on the Future of the South, the Kellogg Commission on the Future of State and Land-Grant Universities, the Education Commission of the States, the Iowa Board of Economic Development, the South Carolina Research Authority, The Sigma Chi Foundation, and the chairmanships of American Humanics and the Iowa Task Force on Teacher Education and Certification.
Curris, who goes by the nickname "Deno," received his baccalaureate and doctorate degrees from the University of Kentucky, and his master’s degree from the University of Illinois. He is married to Jo Hern Curris, a tax attorney. They are parents of two adult children: Robert Alexander and Elena Diane.