UMaine President Kennedy on National Energy Initiative Advisory Committee
Contact: Paul F. Hassen, NASULGC, (202) 478-6073, phassen@nasulgc.org David Edelson, NASULGC, (202) 478-6072, dedelson@nasulgc.org Joe Carr, UMaine, (207) 581-3571, joecarr@maine.edu
ORONO and WASHINGTON, DC – University of Maine President Robert Kennedy is one of 15 national public higher education leaders appointed today to help lead an effort related to energy independence. NASULGC, A Public University Association, has named Kennedy to the advisory committee that will provide leadership to that organization’s initiative aimed at maximizing and advancing the contributions of public research universities to the energy independence effort.
NASULGC President Peter McPherson announced today a 15-person Energy Initiative Advisory Committee, co-chaired by E. Gordon Gee, president of The Ohio State University, and Elsa A. Murano, president of Texas A &M University.
“I am pleased to be included in this group and I look forward to working on this critical issue,” Kennedy says. “UMaine is establishing itself as a leader in energy-related research, with projects underway related to biofuels, offshore wind power and ocean energy. This opportunity will enhance our ability to collaborate with top researchers around the U.S. and to have a real impact as we work together to find clean, renewable ways to power our lives.”
“We have in this country, and in our institutions of higher education, an innovation imperative,” says Gee. “We must solve the enormous challenge of energy independence by coalescing our vast human talent, creativity and innovation. This century’s Sputnik moment awaits our solution.”
“Public research universities have important contributions to make in addressing our need for energy independence,” Murano said. “All sectors of society need to pull together as part of the solution, and our universities are uniquely positioned to help. We want to be clear about the capabilities offered by our member-institutions and explain these strengths to decision makers in Washington.”
The 15-member advisory committee includes public university presidents and chancellors from across the country. In addition to Kennedy, co-chairs Gee and Murano, other committee members include:
· David B. Ashley, President, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
· Jimmy G. Cheek, Chancellor, University of Tennessee
· George E. Cooper, President, South Carolina State University
· Michael M. Crow, President, Arizona State University
· Stephen Forrest, Vice President for Research, University of Michigan
· Gregory L. Geoffroy, President, Iowa State University
· Virginia S. Hinshaw, Chancellor, University of Hawaii
· Robert Kelley, President, The University of North Dakota
· Michael V. Martin, Chancellor, Louisiana State University
· C.D. (Dan) Mote, Jr., President, University of Maryland, College Park
· Michael Telson, Science Advisor, University of California and former chief financial officer at the U.S. Department of Energy
· Mark G. Yudof, President, University of California
The Energy Initiative also includes two subcommittees, a Technical Group and an Advocacy Group. The Technical Group, led by Mike Witherell, vice chancellor for research that the University of California, Santa Barbara and former director of Fermi Lab, and Claude Canizares, vice president for research and associate provost of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will bring together expertise from a variety of robust public research universities.
Alison Fox, assistant director, Washington Office, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Stacy Rastauskas, assistant vice president, federal relations, Washington Office, The Ohio State University, will co-chair the Advocacy Group, which will identify and assess relevant legislation, promote public research university interests before Congress, and help develop presentations for Congress.
Based on preliminary input from the Advocacy Group, the Technical Group is already preparing to make contributions to the Congressional appropriations and authorization legislation now underway. It will identify the most appropriate areas for university contributions to specific federal programs and needs; quickly provide NASULGC staff guidance on responses to agency and Congressional energy program and funding proposals; promote the role of universities to federal agencies; and identify appropriate university faculty to participate in our planned energy/environment briefings before policymakers.
“America’s public research universities have long played a significant role in the research, development and deployment of in energy science and energy technologies.” McPherson said. “Collectively, we can channel the way for making more of these contributions a reality.”