For Immediate Release

Contact:    
Debra Humphreys, Vice President for Communications and Public Affairs
202.387.3760, ext. 422
humphreys@aacu.org

Project Kaleidoscope Executive Director Susan Elrod Appointed to National Governors Association STEM Advisory Committee

The Committee of Nineteen National Leaders to Aid Governors in BuildingSTEM Agendas for States

Washington, DC—January 6, 2011—The National Governors Association (NGA) recently announced the formation of a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Advisory Committee to inform its work in this area and help the twenty-nine new governors, as well as incumbents, develop comprehensive STEM agendas in their states.  Project Kaleidoscope Executive Director Susan Elrod was appointed to the committee, along with eighteen other national leaders with expertise in education, policy, business, and STEM content areas.  Project Kaleidoscope merged with the Association of American Colleges and Universities in 2009, in order to further expand its ongoing leadership for systemic reform in STEM teaching and learning.

“In order for colleges and universities to educate scientifically literate citizens as well as highly qualified scientists, engineers, nurses and other STEM professionals, all parts of the P-16 system must be coordinated,” said PKAL Executive Director Susan Elrod. “Governors are well situated to help their states create the kinds of relevant and engaging learning environments that connect theory and practice across all levels of the educational system. This is a great opportunity for PKAL to contribute its insights from twenty years of working with higher education STEM leaders to this important effort.”

The committee—which met for the first time on November 14 and 15—will guide the expansion of the NGA Center STEM agenda to include both K-12 and higher education; provide a series of recommendations for building and advancing comprehensive STEM education agendas; and inform the development of a national STEM meeting the NGA will host in the fall of 2011.

“The increasingly globalized economy requires workers with strong science, technology, engineering, and math skills,” said John Thomasian, director of the NGA Center.  “This committee is intended to provide the perspectives of a variety of stakeholders to governors and states as they work to establish and grow STEM education programs that can contribute to economic competitiveness.”

For more information about the NGA center STEM education efforts, including the full list of committee members, visit www.nga.org/center/edu. For information on Project Kaleidoscope, visit www.aacu.org/pkal.

About Project Kaleidoscope

Since its founding in 1989, Project Kaleidoscope (PKAL) has been one of the leading advocates in the United States for building and sustaining strong undergraduate programs in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). With an extensive network of over 5,000 faculty members and administrators across the nation, PKAL has developed far-reaching influence in shaping undergraduate STEM learning environments that attract and retain undergraduate students. PKAL accomplishes its work by engaging campus faculty and leaders in funded projects, national and regional meetings, community-building activities, leadership development programs, and publications that are focused on advancing what works in STEM education. http://www.aacu.org/pkal.

About AAC&U

AAC&U is the leading national association concerned with the quality, vitality, and public standing of undergraduate liberal education. Its members are committed to extending the advantages of a liberal education to all students, regardless of academic specialization or intended career. Founded in 1915, AAC&U now comprises more than 1,200 member institutions-including accredited public and private colleges and universities of every type and size.

AAC&U functions as a catalyst and facilitator, forging links among presidents, administrators, and faculty members who are engaged in institutional and curricular planning. Its mission is to reinforce the collective commitment to liberal education at both the national and local levels and to help individual institutions keep the quality of student learning at the core of their work as they evolve to meet new economic and social challenges.

Information about AAC&U membership, programs, and publications can be found at www.aacu.org.