FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                            MEDIA CONTACT: Emily Cain

January 14, 2010                                                                    202-994-3087; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

GW INITIATES NATIONWIDE SEARCH FOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ITS GRADUATE SCHOOL OF POLITICAL MANAGEMENT

Arterton Stepping Down as Dean, Cushman Assuming Role of Acting Executive Director

WASHINGTON - The George Washington University today announced that it will initiate a nationwide search during the spring 2010 semester for an executive director of its Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM).  The search follows the announcement by Christopher Arterton that he is stepping down as dean of the school, effective July 1, 2010, and will return to the faculty on a full-time basis, including assuming faculty leadership of the Institute for Politics, Democracy and the Internet (IPDI) within GSPM.  Until a new executive director can be named, Associate Dean Chuck Cushman will assume the role of acting executive director of GSPM, with full administrative responsibilities for the school.

"I want to express my sincere thanks to Dr. Arterton for his leadership and his dedication to GSPM and to the University," said Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Donald R. Lehman.  "He has built and strengthened the Graduate School of Political Management over time, and contributed significantly to the field of political management.  Going forward, I am pleased that our students will now have the benefit of his knowledge in more classes than he has been able to teach in the past due to his administrative responsibilities."

Commencing this month, Dr. Arterton will assist in facilitating a transfer of leadership for the school, as well as prepare for his teaching responsibilities and for his role in further developing IPDI.  A nationwide search for a new executive director will begin this spring.

"This year will mark 23 years of growth for GSPM," said Dr. Arterton.  "The school is now well launched and in a sound position to continue that growth in the coming decades.  I am thrilled by what we have achieved, and am excited about my future role in making The Graduate School of Political Management the world's premier school of practical politics."

Dr. Arterton served as the dean of GSPM from 1987 to 1995, before the school became part of The George Washington University and has continued as dean to the present.  The school is part of the College of Professional Studies.  Under his leadership, the school has grown from 23 students to over 450 students enrolled in three master's degree and four certificate programs and now has over 1,800 alumni.  Among his many achievements as dean, Dr. Arterton created non-credit programs throughout Latin America that annually educate more than 1,000 mid-career political professionals; launched ongoing exchange programs with universities in Spain and Ecuador; and brought to GW several important foundation grants, including awards from the Pew Charitable Trusts and the AT&T Foundation.

"We are profoundly thankful for Dr. Arterton's leadership of GSPM during its first two decades.  His contribution to the school and to the College of Professional Studies has been significant," said College of Professional Studies Dean Kathleen Burke.  "We are grateful that Associate Dean Cushman has agreed to serve as acting executive director, and we are committed to providing a smooth transition for students, faculty, and staff while the national search gets underway."

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