Diane Lyden Murphy, dean of Syracuse University's College of Human Services and Health Professions (HSHP), announced the appointment of James L. Stone '62, G'64 as chair of the HSHP Board of Visitors.
"Jim's experience and leadership skills make him the ideal candidate for the position," says Murphy. "We are grateful and delighted that he has agreed to serve the college in this way, and we know our board will grow stronger by his guidance."
"I have been a member of the board since 1995 and I have been impressed with the quality of the college faculty and their commitment to their students," says Stone. "I am honored to be selected as chair and look forward to continuing the productive relationship between the board and the faculty and students."
Stone is deputy administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), where he serves as chief operating officer for the agency, overseeing three centers: the Center for Mental Health Services, the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, plus the Office of Applied Studies. He is also acting director of behavioral health for the Indian Health Service in HHS.
His early career was spent in the juvenile justice field. He was deputy director of detention care for Onondaga County, then joined the New York State Division for Youth, where he served in a variety of positions, including director of youth
homes in Rochester and superintendent of the New York State Agricultural and Industrial School.
He then entered the field of mental health, serving as director of mental health for Livingston County and chief of mental health services at Rochester Psychiatric Center. He was later appointed by Governor George Pataki as commissioner of the New York State Office of Mental Health, overseeing state operations serving 6,000 inpatients in 27 hospitals and 20,000 outpatients.
He earned a bachelor's degree in 1962 and a master of social work degree in 1964, both from SU.
