2006.03.30: March 30, 2006: Headlines: Staff: COS - Philippines: Writing - Philippines: Messenger-Inquirer: Former Peace Corps Deputy Director David Searles to coordinate group for increased higher education opportunities and participation in the Owensboro region
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2006.03.30: March 30, 2006: Headlines: Staff: COS - Philippines: Writing - Philippines: Messenger-Inquirer: Former Peace Corps Deputy Director David Searles to coordinate group for increased higher education opportunities and participation in the Owensboro region
Former Peace Corps Deputy Director David Searles to coordinate group for increased higher education opportunities and participation in the Owensboro region
Searles has served as deputy chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts and as deputy director of the Peace Corps. Prior to those government roles, his experience was "a mix of business and government with a heavy international flavor." Searles was Country Director for the Philippines and is author of the Peace Corps classic "The Peace Corps Experience."
Former Peace Corps Deputy Director David Searles to coordinate group for increased higher education opportunities and participation in the Owensboro region
Higher education group forms
Mar 30, 2006
Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Ky.
Mar. 30--A 17-member committee that includes representatives from private and public colleges as well as government, economic development and nonprofit agencies has been formed to lead the charge to increase higher education opportunities and participation in the Owensboro region.
The group will hold its first meeting today, said David Searles, a former business executive and government official who will coordinate the group's activities.
"I have consumed a great deal of higher education, and I know what a difference it can make in people's lives," Searles said.
He earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Yale University and a doctorate degree from the University of Kentucky.
The group's coordinator said he also brings an objective view to the table since he doesn't have close ties to any local college or university.
Searles came to Owensboro 18 years ago to work with Field Packing Co. He and his wife, Mary Searles, have been involved in a variety of community activities.
He has served as deputy chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts and as deputy director of the Peace Corps. Prior to those government roles, his experience was "a mix of business and government with a heavy international flavor."
A starting point for the new group likely will be the Chance Report, a higher education research document commissioned by the Owensboro Citizens Committee on Education.
"I think it's the right place to begin," Searles said. "How long we stay on that agenda or develop our own is unknown."
Statistics from 2000 cited in the Chance Report show that Daviess County ranks 18th among all counties in the number of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher, with 18.6 percent of the 25-34 age group earning degrees.
The county ranks last in that category when compared to counties where there is a four-year public institution.
Daviess County has an undergraduate participation rate of 3.89 percent, ranking next to last among eight peer counties. At the graduate/professional degree level, local residents' participation level is .53 percent -- last in the peer group.
Those and other higher education and economic indicators identified in the study suggest suboptimal performance for Daviess County.
Searles expects to have general discussion on the report's findings and recommendations when the group meets today.
"I'm assuming there will be a lot of individual opinions and no consensus yet," Searles said. "It would be wrong to hasten a consensus; you never know what you may pass up."
Forrest Roberts, a local attorney who led the higher education research project, will serve on the committee.
Roberts said she sees the group's focus as one of guiding the community's higher education goals.
Other members include the leaders of the local colleges, the mayor, the judge-executive, and presidents of the chamber and economic development groups.
"I'm impressed with the names on the list; they have great experience in the community," Searles said.
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Group Members
-- David Searles, group coordinator; former business executive and government official.
-- Jackie Addington, president, Owensboro Community & Technical College.
-- Rodney Berry, president, Public Life Foundation of Owensboro.
-- Sr. Vivian Bowles, president, Brescia University.
-- Nick Brake, president, Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation.
-- Marilyn Brookman, executive director, Western Kentucky University-Owensboro Campus.
-- Malcolm Bryant, real estate and property manager.
-- Bob Darrell, former Kentucky Wesleyan College English professor and business consultant.
-- Marianne Smith Edge, president of MSE and Associates, a nutrition management consulting company, and co-chairwoman of the Citizens Committee on Education.
-- Mike Fiorella, attorney with Sullivan, Mountjoy, Stainback and Miller.
-- Anne Cairns Federlein, president, Kentucky Wesleyan College.
-- Reid Haire, Daviess County judge-executive.
-- Esther Jansing, former member, Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education.
-- Ed Riney, president of LinGate Hospitality.
-- Forrest Roberts, attorney and co-chairwoman of the Citizens Committee on Education.
-- Tom Watson, mayor of Owensboro.
-- Jody Wassmer, president, Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce.
When this story was posted in May 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:
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Story Source: Messenger-Inquirer
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Staff; COS - Philippines; Writing - Philippines
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