Hartwick Institute of Public Service Leadership Council Members Announced

The Hartwick College Institute of Public Service is proud to announce the inaugural members of its Leadership Council–ten Hartwick College alums—who are highly accomplished leaders in their respective fields.

  • Matt Chase ’93, CEO/executive director of the National Association of Counties
  • Geoffrey Corn ’83, George R. Killam Jr. Chair of Criminal Law and director of the Center for Military Law and Policy at Texas Tech University School of Law, professor of law and U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel (Retired)
  • Carlo A.C. de Oliveira ’02, member of the law firm Cooper Erving & Savage LLP in Albany, N.Y.
  • Jennifer Givner ’99, director of media relations and communications at the New York State Thruway Authority
  • Randy L. McCullough ’86, Hartwick College Board of Trustee member, director of legislative and regulatory affairs, New York State Funeral Directors Association
  • Mike McIntire ’85, Pulitzer prize-winning investigative journalist at The New York Times
  • Raymond “Larry” Miller ’73, Hartwick College Trustee, former CEO of Northern Composites, a New Hampshire Budget Committee member and Select Board member
  • Matipa Mutoti ’20, master’s of public policy at American University, legal analyst
  • James Seward ’73 H ’99, former New York State Senator
  • Joanne Dittes Yepsen ’80, former two-term mayor of Saratoga Springs and co-founder of public affairs firm Yepsen & Pikulski

“My co-directors of the institute, Professors Matt Chick and Zachary McKenney, and I are honored that these incredibly accomplished alumni have agreed to serve on our Leadership Council,” said Laurel Elder, professor of political science. “They have done so because they share our passion for creating pathways for young people to engage in public service and believe the Institute represents a concrete way to ensure the future vitality of our democracy.”

Since its launch on September 19, 2023, Hartwick’s Institute of Public Service has offered various programs to engage young people in democracy and inspire the next generation of public servants. The institute has also worked with local government officials and organizations to develop strategies for strengthening our region, making it an even more appealing place to attend college, work, and live.

The Institute of Public Leadership Council will draw on their areas of expertise to strengthen and bring greater visibility to the institute’s 2024-25 programming, which includes a September 24 talk by John Zogby, one of America’s preeminent pollsters, about the role of polling in our democracy; six weeks of voter registration and election-themed programming; a robust public service internship program; and the launch of a national Collaborative Public Service Award to be presented at an inaugural celebration event in Washington D.C. on October 25, 2024.

Councilmember and Hartwick College Trustee Raymond “Larry” Miller ’73 has generously offered to match donations to the Hartwick Institute of Public Service up to $50,000 a year for five years, for a total of a quarter million dollars. The Leadership Council members will play a strategic role in helping raise the matching funds.

Those wishing to support the institute through the Together, We Soar campaign can do so by clicking this link or going to the Hartwick Institute of Public Service website and clicking the “Support Our Work” button.

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