James R. Sears IV of Rochester has been named assistant vice president for Facilities Planning and Management (FP&M) at Wayne State University.

As chief facilities officer, he has overall responsibility for planning, developing and directing all facilities planning and management services. These include plant operations and maintenance; contracting and construction; design, ground and custodial services; utilities and energy conservation; and business services.

Sears has more than 20 years experience in facilities and engineering, with more than 15 years in management-level positions. Prior to being named to his new position, he was director of design services and interim co-leader of the FP&M Division.

He has a master's degree in construction management and a bachelor's degree in management engineering, both from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts. He came to WSU in 1997 from Northfield Mount Herman School in Massachusetts, where he was director of plant facilities. Before that, he was director of physical plant services at Westfield State College, also in Massachusetts.