(Pittsburgh, PA, June 21, 2001)  Edward N. Stoner II will become President of the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) and Chairman of its Board of Directors at the Association's annual meeting on June 23 in San Diego. Mr. Stoner, a partner in the Pittsburgh office of Reed Smith, is the first President in the past 10 years to work in a law firm rather than be in-house general counsel at a college or university.

Founded in 1960-61, NACUA is an international bar association with more than 3,000 attorney members in the United States and Canada who provide legal advice to the Presidents, Boards of Trustees, and faculty leaders of our continent's colleges and universities. NACUA members represent more than 1,400 college communities.

Mr. Stoner has served on many committees of NACUA since becoming a member in 1985, and most recently as 2nd Vice President, 1st Vice President and President-Elect. For three years he chaired the Intercollegiate Athletics Committee and was chair of the Continuing Legal Education Committee, as well as the Strategic Planning Committee. "I've enjoyed doing a lot of work with colleges and universities," he said. "I started with Duquesne University (in Pittsburgh), working in student affairs and intercollegiate athletics in the late 1970s." Mr. Stoner has since written a model coaching contract and a model student discipline code which are currently being used by educational institutions around the country.

In his role as President, Mr. Stoner said he will provide general supervision to the office staff of 15 people, located in Washington, D.C., as well as set goals and objectives for the professional staff to help NACUA volunteer members coordinate their efforts to advise representing colleges and universities. He will also be responsible for general oversight of NACUA's $2 million annual budget.

At Reed Smith, Mr. Stoner, who earned his law degree at the University of Virginia in 1972, is head of the firm’s Higher Education Group. In addition to clients in private industry, he represents college and university clients not only in employment matters, but also in general matters involving student life and discipline and faculty relations.

Mr. Stoner said Reed Smith encourages his work with NACUA. "Reed Smith has been extremely supportive of my efforts over the years. That's one reason why I'm able to be in this position (of President). Indeed, this support of volunteer work to improve our profession is consistent with what Reed Smith has always done. Philander Knox, one of the founders of the firm, was the third President of the Pennsylvania Bar Association back in 1896."