University of North Carolina Wilmington Chancellor Gary Miller has created a new position among his senior executive staff. And, the university has hired Jenni Harris to fill it. She will begin as the Assistant to the Chancellor for Community Partnerships on Monday.

Harris will use her community connections to help create conversations and collaborations between the university and the broader Wilmington community, including businesses and non-profit organizations.

“There are so many groups that can benefit from being in collaboration with UNCW,” she said. “I’m going to be the person who will bring all of the people to the table.”

The community partnership position is modeled after one Miller valued at Wichita State University, where he had been provost before coming here.

“Chancellor Miller feels strongly that UNCW must invest in some priority areas, even while facing difficult budget cuts,” said Max Allen, UNCW chief of staff, who will supervise Harris in her new role. “This new role will seek out, develop and establish new business and community partnerships, strengthen existing partnerships across the university, and identify new, innovative ways to find resources to meet university and community needs, which is critical during this time of declining state appropriations. The monies to support this new position are from non-state-appropriated funds.”

UNCW's budget for fiscal year 2010-11 has been reduced by 15.8 percent or $16.57 million. The budget reduction will mean the school will have to eliminate the equivalent of 147 full-time jobs.

The salary for the new position is $89,760, said Dana Fischetti, UNCW media relations manager.

Harris received a bachelor of arts in English from UNCW in 1991 and a certificate in business administration with a concentration in business development, marketing relationships and project management from the Cameron School of Business in 2010.

Previously, she was the events manager at the Greater Wilmington Business Journal and Wilma Magazine. Currently, she is the corporate sales and service manager for SMG Management Corp., which manages the Wilmington Convention Center.

“I’m really sad to be leaving that group, but this opportunity is so amazing,” she said.

The convention center’s management company is in the process of interviewing to fill Harris’ position.