Charles B. Reed, Chancellor of the California State University System, Selected to Serve as National Leader in Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention

The Presidents Leadership Group was originally formed by the Higher Education Center in 1997 with support from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to bring national attention to alcohol and other drug prevention on college and university campuses. That year, the six-member PLG published an alcohol prevention report urging college presidents to become more active leaders on this issue on their campuses and in their surrounding communities.

The expanded PLG will build upon the activities of the original group, with members serving as prevention spokespersons, change agents, and models for other presidents. PLG members will also serve to further statewide and regional alcohol and other drug prevention efforts, with members adopting leadership roles in existing regional initiatives or taking the lead in states where statewide efforts have not yet taken hold.

"Presidential leadership is a critical component of successful prevention efforts on college and university campuses, and of effective partnerships between these institutions and their surrounding communities," states Higher Education Center Director William DeJong. "We are looking forward to seeing these presidents serve as change agents in their campus communities, and also as models for other presidents who are looking to take action."

Twenty-six new PLG members were chosen based on their previous leadership and their plans for future leadership in alcohol and other drug prevention. The rigorous selection process required applicants to submit personal statements, letters of support from people within their institution and their surrounding community, and biennial review reports—a federal reporting requirement under the Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Regulations.

"Student alcohol abuse is not just a California State University problem. This is a national higher education problem," said Charles B. Reed, California State University System Chancellor. "I believe that if we - chancellors, presidents, faculty, staff, and students – make the prevention of alcohol abuse a priority, we can make a difference. I am proud to serve on the Presidents Leadership Group to help alcohol and other drug prevention efforts on a national level."

The following college and university leaders have been selected to be part of the new PLG:
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania (PA): Jessica Kozloff
California State University, Fresno (CA): John Welty
California State University System (CA): Charles B. Reed
Clarkson College (NE): J. W. Upright
College of Santa Fe (NM): Linda Hanson
Edgewood College (WI): James Ebben
Frederick Community College (MD): Patricia Stanley
Gustavus Adolphus College (MN): Axel Steuer
Lehigh University (PA): Gregory Farrington
The Ohio State University (OH): William Kirwan
SUNY, Potsdam (NY): John Fallon
San Diego State University (CA): Stephen Weber
Southeastern Louisiana University (LA): Randy Moffett
University at Albany, SUNY (NY): Karen Hitchcock
University of Bridgeport (CT): Neil Salonen
University of California, Santa Barbara (CA): Henry Yang
University of Delaware (DE): David Roselle
University of Kentucky (KY): Lee Todd
University of Puget Sound (WA): Susan Pierce
University of Missouri, Rolla (MO): Gary Thomas
University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg (PA): Frank Cassell
University of San Diego (CA): Alice Hayes
University of Wyoming (WY): Philip Dubois
Weber State University (UT): Paul Thompson
West Virginia University, Parkersburg (WV): Erik Bitterbaum
Western Washington University (WA): Karen Morse

Additionally, the following original PLG members have reaffirmed their commitment to this effort by continuing their membership:
Prairie View A&M University (TX): Charles A. Hines
Tennessee Wesleyan College (TN): B. James Dawson
University of Iowa (IA): Mary Sue Coleman
University of Rhode Island (RI): Robert Carothers
Vanderbilt University (TN): Gordon Gee

The California State University is the largest system of senior higher education in the country, with 23 campuses, nearly 400,000 students and 42,000 faculty and staff. Since the system was created in 1961, it has awarded about 2 million degrees. The CSU is renowned for the quality of its teaching and for the job- ready graduates it produces. Its mission is to provide high-quality, affordable education to meet the ever- changing needs of the people of California. With its commitment to excellence, diversity and innovation, the CSU is the university system that is working for California. See www.calstate.edu.

The Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention serves as the national resource center for institutions of higher education concerned with reducing alcohol and other drug use. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, with supplemental funding from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Center offers training, technical assistance, publications, and other information to assist those who want to take an active part in changing the environment in which students make decisions about alcohol and other drug use. The Higher Education Center is based at Education Development Center, Inc., an internationally known non-profit educational research and development organization located in Newton, Massachusetts.

For additional information, contact the Higher Education Center by telephone (800-676-1730) or through the Internet (HigherEdCtr@edc.org). The Center's Web site (www.edc.org/hec) provides one-stop shopping for alcohol and other drug prevention in higher education.