EUGENE, Ore. -- (June 15, 2011) - James Brooks, a nationally recognized leader in student financial aid, has been hired as the new director of student financial aid and scholarships at the University of Oregon.

Brooks, who has served for the past three years as director of student financial aid at the University of Missouri in Columbia, was hired for the UO position following a nationwide search. He will succeed Elizabeth Bickford, who will retire at the end of June following 29 years at the UO - including the past 11 as director.

"In bringing Jim to the University of Oregon, we have selected one of the best financial aid directors in the country and someone who is currently serving on the national board of directors for financial aid administrators," said Roger Thompson, the UO's vice provost for enrollment management. "All of us in enrollment management look forward to welcoming Jim and his family to the University of Oregon, and their new home in Eugene."

Brooks began his career as a financial aid counselor, and has progressed through several leadership positions. Prior to his assignment at the University of Missouri, he served from 1999 through 2008 as senior associate director of financial aid at Indiana University, Bloomington. He has also served as president of the Midwest Association of Financial Aid Administrators (MASFAA), and is currently a voting member of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFA) Board of Directors.

"During Jim's career, he has made a difference everyplace he has worked and has demonstrated his constant commitment to students and families - I am just thrilled he is joining us at the UO," Thompson said.

Brooks said he is also excited about the possibilities in his new position at the UO.

"I believe that the university is poised to achieve even greater things under its current leadership, and after spending some time on campus, I realized that I want to be a part of that effort," he said. "The staff in the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships is a great group of professionals, and I look forward to working with them to serve the students of the University of Oregon."

Brooks holds a bachelor's degree in sociology from Anderson College in Indiana, and a master's degree in sociology from the University of Notre Dame. He will begin his new duties at the UO on Aug. 8.

UO Registrar Sue Eveland served as the chair of the search committee.

"We had an outstanding pool of candidates, and a terrific search committee and process that has resulted in the hiring of someone we believe will be committed to serving and assisting our students in financing their education," she said.

About the University of Oregon
The University of Oregon is among the 108 institutions chosen from 4,633 U.S. universities for top-tier designation of "Very High Research Activity" in the 2010 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The UO also is one of two Pacific Northwest members of the Association of American Universities.

MEDIA CONTACT: Joe Mosley, UO media relations, 541-346-3606, jmosley@uoregon.edu

SOURCE: Roger Thompson, UO vice provost for enrollment management, 541-346-2542, rjt@uoregon.edu