Articles

Promise Plus spotlighted, as new IUP head welcomed

Category: Lifestyle Published on Wednesday, 24 October 2012 10:05 Written by Courier Newsroom

INDIANA, Pa.—The Allegheny Conference on Community Development and Organization President Dennis Yablonsky recently hosted a welcome event to introduce Michael Driscoll, PhD, the president of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, to leaders in the Allegheny County community.

HOSTS AND GUESTS—Seated, from left: Davie Huddleston, 1968 IUP graduate, PNC Bank Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion, member of the event host committee; IUP President Michael Driscoll LPhD; and Yaw Asamoah PhD, dean, IUP College of Health and Human Services. Back row, from left: Donna Micheaux, PhD, 1975 IUP graduate, assistant executive director of organization leadership and development, Allegheny Intermediate Unit, member of the event host committee; Debra Valentine Gray, director, Regional Advancement, IUP; Jackie Dixon, director of Governmental Relations, Giant Eagle; Gail Edwards, PhD,1969 IUP graduate, CEO, Urban League of Pittsburgh Charter School, member of the event host committee; and Dara Ware Allen PhD, COO, Leadership Pittsburgh Inc.

IUP’s Promise Plus—now in its third year—aims to expand on the Pittsburgh Promise, which is designed to help all students in Pittsburgh Public Schools plan, prepare and pay for education beyond high school at an accredited post-secondary institution within Pennsylvania.

IUP has also received a grant of $361,500 for a program designed to increase the number of African-American men in teacher preparation programs in colleges and universities. California University of Pennsylvania, the Community College of Allegheny County, Point Park University and IUP have formed a consortium to recruit African-American males into the teaching profession. The grant proposal was authored by Robert Millward, PhD, a professor in the professional studies in education department at IUP. The program will span three years.

IUP also has a partnership with the Pittsburgh Public Schools that has included the establishment of two professional development schools, membership on the executive board of the School District University Collaborative and the establishment of Future Educators of America clubs at three Pittsburgh high schools.

More than 85 individuals attended the event to meet Driscoll, who began his presidency at IUP on July 1.

IUP has been the recipient of a total of $460,000 from The Heinz Endowments for the IUP Promise Plus program.

The Allegheny Conference on Community Development is a nonprofit, private sector leadership organization dedicated to economic development and quality of life issues for the greater Pittsburgh region.