May 14, 2012

Former AUBG President, Dr. W. Michael Easton, appointed successor to Dr.

David Huwiler

Following its meeting in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria, the AUBG Board of Trustees

announced that it has selected Dr. W. Michael Easton as the next President of
the University. Earlier this year, Dr. Huwiler notified the Board of his intention to
retire. In preparing for a Presidential search and transition process, the Board
determined that AUBG’s immediate past President, Dr. Easton, who had
provided invaluable leadership to the University from 2005 to 2007, is uniquely
qualified to return to his previous position. Dr. Easton accepted the Board’s offer
and will assume his responsibilities as President on September 1 st, under an
agreement to serve the University through summer of 2014.

Board Chair Marianne Keler thanked Dr. Huwiler for his dedicated leadership and
great service to AUBG over the past five years, noting his important contributions
to campus development, internationalization of the student body and public
recognition of the University for its academic excellence.

Ms. Keler welcomed Dr. Easton back to the University, stating, “The Board of
Trustees is looking forward to working once again with Dr. Easton to advance
AUBG’s mission and to build on the tremendous progress that has been made in
recent years. We have every confidence that his passion and vision for AUBG
will help move us forward as a leading, internationally recognized undergraduate
university.”

Dr. Easton has extensive senior leadership experience in American-style higher

education, both in the United States and abroad. In addition to serving as
President of the University of Maine at Presque Isle and of Western Montana
College, he served as interim President for a number of institutions through the
“Registry for Colleges and University Presidents” in the United States. Dr. Easton
has recently been a strategy consultant for the Open Society Foundations and
various international universities in Afghanistan, Mexico and Russia.

“My wife and I are delighted to be returning to Bulgaria and reconnecting with our
many friends there. I look forward to working with AUBG staff and faculty on
institutional growth and academic excellence. Most of all, I look forward to
meeting the many exceptional students from all over the region and the world
who exemplify the best of AUBG,” said Dr. Easton.