January, 2011 - Albert Beckford Jones unanimously approved to serve as Chairman Emeritus by the Board of Trustees of the Public Policy International Affairs (PPIA)

Washington, DC – The Board of Trustees of the Pubic Policy & International Affairs (PPIA) approved Albert Beckford Jones to serve as Chairman of PPIA’s Advisory Board with the title of Chairman Emeritus, in recognition of outstanding service to the Board as the former Chairman of PPIA’s Board of Directors (2009-2010). PPIA is a consortium of approximately 40 of America’s finest and most respected graduate schools, offering advanced degrees in public policy, public administration, international relations, and related fields. Its members include Princeton, Yale, University of California-Berkeley, University of Chicago, Duke University, University of Minnesota, John Hopkins, Georgetown University, American University, Carnegie Mellon, and the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA). PPIA’s purpose is to promote the inclusion and full participation of underrepresented groups in public service and to advance their leadership roles throughout United States civic institutions serving domestic and international affairs, representing the largest diversity initiative in professional public service and international affairs in the United States.

As Chairman Emeritus, Mr. Jones will lead the effort to seek out outstanding and prominent Americans to serve on the PPIA Advisory Board who have demonstrated a track record of service to the public, international affairs, and to their communities, citing that their record of public service should illustrate sensitivity to people and problems they confront specifically in areas of education. They should also demonstrate an understanding of issues like access, quality, and affordability. In addition, their experience in public or community service should demonstrate their ability to approach these major educational concerns with a balanced and broad perspective.

PPIA also approved the appointment of Dean William LeoGrande (Dean of American University’s Graduate School of Public Affairs) and PPIA’s current Vice Chair Martha Chavez (Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs at the University California Berkeley Graduate School of Public Policy) to serve jointly as Co-Chairs on the PPIA Board of Directors.