Dean College prez to lead advocacy group
The head of a Central Massachusetts college has taken the helm of a group that hopes to bring local issues to the nation's Capitol.
Paula M. Rooney, president of Franklin-based Dean College, has recently been selected to chair the higher education committee, a newly formed group created by the New England Council, the nation's oldest regional business organization.Issues such as public funding, rising costs, the future of research and workforce development, that continually plague the education "hot spot" of New England will be brought to Washington, D.C., through the organization's collaborative efforts.
Council members will advocate federal public policy and regional initiatives. Strategies that specifically benefit New England's institutions will be pushed toward lawmakers.
"As the region debates important issues of economic development, the discussions often include a focus on higher education," Rooney said. "There are many bills currently being debated on Capitol Hill, including the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, we are interested in focusing on."
More than 60 council members form the new committee, which tackles the large economic sector in New England.
"Our colleges and universities contributed more than $80 billion to the economy in 2004 alone," said James T. Brett, President and CEO of the New England Council.
The council consists of the partnership of large and small companies, institutions of higher education, nonprofit and other agencies dedicated to promoting economic development in the six-state New England region. It has presented principles to the New England Congressional delegation that include making higher education more affordable for students, improving science, technology, engineering and math education, and supporting programs that make the industry and students more competitive.
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