KETTL APPOINTED DEAN OF SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY

Donald Kettl, a widely sought after expert on reshaping government, will bring his vision and leadership to the University of Maryland as the new dean of the School of Public Policy, which he says is uniquely suited to help government and future leaders cope with the current round of unprecedented problems. Kettl currently is a professor of political science and the Robert A. Fox Professor of Leadership at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also a nonresident senior fellow of the Brookings Institution. He previously served as executive director of the Century Foundation's Project on Federalism and Homeland Security, and academic coordinator of the Government Performance Project for the Pew Charitable Trusts. He replaces Dr. Steve Fetter, who stepped down as Dean of the School of Public Policy to become Assistant Director at-large of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Kettl will assume the post in June.

For more information, visit:

http://www.newsdesk.umd.edu/uniini/release.cfm?ArticleID=1863

UM BUSINESS SCHOOL LAUNCHES INITIATIVE FOR SOCIAL VALUE CREATION

The University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business has launched a new Initiative for Social Value Creation, in a push to engage every student in courses and experiential learning programs that build leadership and an understanding of how businesses can create both economic prosperity and transformative social change. The goal is to teach students to consider their business decisions and apply business processes and entrepreneurship to tackle some of society's most critical environmental and humanitarian needs. The flagship component of the Social Value Creation program is experiential learning—the opportunity for students to engage in real-world fieldwork, such as helping a nonprofit organization achieve scale or traveling abroad to work on sustainable projects in developing countries.

For more information, visit:

http://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/news/releases/2009/031109.aspx

 

UM LAUNCHES WEBSITE TO ASSIST VOTERS AND TRACK THE FLOW OF MONEY IN ELECTIONS

The University of Maryland's Center for American Politics and Citizenship is launching the Maryland Elections Center Website. The site allows voters to verify their voter registration, locate a polling place and look up the status of their absentee or provisional ballot. It also provides detailed information on the contributions and expenditures of candidates, political parties, issue committees, PACs, individuals and others that participate in the financing of Maryland elections. Reports written by Center Director Paul S. Herrnson and the center's staff provide analyses of the flow of campaign money, the impact of incumbency and partisanship on campaign financing, and other subjects related to money and politics in Maryland.

For more information, visit:

http://www.mdelections.umd.edu/

 

THREE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND STUDENTS AWARDED GOLDWATER SCHOLARSHIPS

Three University of Maryland students have been awarded scholarships by the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation, which was established in 1986 to encourage students to pursue advanced study and careers in the sciences, engineering and mathematics. This year, Maryland is one of a handful of colleges nationwide with three or more award recipients.

Maryland's three Goldwater scholars are: junior Sarah Peitzmeier, sophomore Zachary Russ and junior John Silberholz. Each scholar will receive a one or two-year scholarships that covers the cost of tuition, fees, books, and room and board—up to a maximum of $7,500 per year. The scholarships are also a stepping-stone to future support for their research careers, according to the foundation.

For more information, visit:

http://www.newsdesk.umd.edu/undergradexp/release.cfm?ArticleID=1853

 

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND DEAN APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF AUTO RECOVERY BY PRESIDENT OBAMA

President Barack Obama announced the appointment of Ed Montgomery, Dean of the University of Maryland College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, to Director of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers, part of the Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry, on March 30. In this capacity, Montgomery will be responsible for coordinating a government-wide effort to help support the workers, communities and regions that rely on the American auto industry. As dean of the university's largest college, Montgomery provided administrative and academic leadership to more than 5,500 undergraduates and 900 graduate students.

For more information, visit:

http://www.newsdesk.umd.edu/sociss/release.cfm?ArticleID=1851
 

UM ALUM NAMED TO TIME LIST OF TOP INFLUENCERS

Maryland alumnus Jeff Kinney, class of 1993, has been named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by TIME. Kinney, who earned a degree in criminology from the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, is the author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, a series of children's books starring Greg Heffley, a middle schooler who brings the hazards of growing up to life through his journal. Making TIME's list puts him in distinguished company. Also making the list this year are President Barack Obama, Senator Ted Kennedy, Oprah Winfrey, Timothy Geithner and Twitter founders Jack Dorsey and Biz Stone.

For more information, visit:

http://www.newsdesk.umd.edu/sociss/release.cfm?ArticleID=1886
 

UM EXPERT TO HEAD U.S. EPA'S SMART GROWTH DIVISION

The University of Maryland's John W. Frece is taking his years of "smart growth" expertise and experience to the Obama Administration to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Smart Growth division. Frece stepped down as associate director of the University of Maryland's National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education in March to take the reins as director of the EPA's Development, Community, and Environment Division. The unit offers technical assistance to state and local governments, sponsors and conducts smart growth research, and supports a variety of networking and outreach efforts.

For more information, visit:

http://www.newsdesk.umd.edu/sociss/release.cfm?ArticleID=1846
 

UM PHYSICS PROFESSOR JIM GATES NAMED TO PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL OF ADVISORS ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

University of Maryland physics Professor Sylvester "Jim" Gates was named by President Obama as a member of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). He joins a team of 20 of the country's leading scientists and engineers who will advise the President directly to help the administration formulate policy related to science, technology and innovation.

Jim Gates has long been known for his groundbreaking, ongoing work in supersymmetry and supergravity, areas that are closely related to string theory.

For more information, visit:

http://www.newsdesk.umd.edu/scitech/release.cfm?ArticleID=1882