January 29, 2002» Media Advisory» NR 02-02
Leon Panetta, former White House chief of staff and director of the Office of Management and Budget, will address University of Alaska managers and directors from around the system Tuesday noon, Feb. 5, at the Chena Convention Center.

Panetta’s speech is the highlight of the first day of the 3-day work session on the university’s role in Alaska’s future. Following his government service, Panetta founded the Panetta Institute for Public Policy in Monterey, California, and with his wife, Sylvia, directs the operations of the Institute. While still in his twenties, Panetta served as chief legislative aide to the minority whip of the U. S. Senate, and then as director of the U. S. Office for Civil Rights. He later spent a year as executive assistant to the mayor of New York City, and returned home to the Monterey Bay area, where he ran successfully for Congress.

His 16 years in the House of Representatives included four years as chairman of the Budget Committee. In 1993, President Clinton asked him to serve as director of the Office of Management and Budget, and the following year appointed him White House chief of staff.

The first day of the work session will feature state leaders presenting their ideas for how the university can better meet Alaska’s needs in areas such as health care, education, humanities, natural resource development, communications and information technology, transportation and
construction/engineering.

On Wednesday, university officials will talk about ways the university can help meet state needs in each of the identified areas. The final day of the session will focus on enrollment management issues and techniques.

Each day the meeting will run from 8 a. m. until 5 p. m.