Colorado State University and Congressional Black Caucus Institute to Sign Memorandum of Understanding

Note to Reporters: Reporters interested in attending the MOU signing need to RSVP to Kimberly Sorensen at (970) 491-0757 or Kimberly.Sorensen@colostate.edu. The signing is not open to the public. The MOU signing will be held at 1 p.m. April 19 in the President’s Office North Conference Room in the Administration Building on the CSU campus.

Colorado State University and the Congressional Black Caucus Political Education and Leadership Institute are poised to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on April 19 to bring into focus issues related to the environment and diversity.

The Congressional Black Caucus Institute is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that works to create opportunities for young African Americans whose backgrounds, interests and aspirations guide them toward public service. Congressman Bennie G. Thompson of Mississippi serves as chairman of the institute’s board of directors and will be at the MOU signing.

The MOU will support the newly launched Conservation Leadership through Learning initiative from the university’s Warner College of Natural Resources and the School of Global Environmental Sustainability and in partnership with Mexico’s University of Southern Frontier. This innovative, masters-level specialization is aimed at preparing the next generation of conservation leaders to be big picture problem-solvers.

Details of the MOU agreement include:

  • A two-year scholarship for the Conservation Leadership Through Learning initiative.
  • Colorado State will serve in an advisory capacity on environmental issues to the Congressional Black Caucus Institute.
  • Opportunities will be pursued in which congressional representatives will serve as guest speakers in the Conservation Leadership Through Learning initiative.
  • Development of dynamic internship opportunities for CSU students with the Congressional Black Caucus Institute.

CSU representatives who will attend the signing are Tony Frank, president; Rick Miranda, provost and executive vice president; Joyce Berry, dean of the Warner College of Natural Resources; Mike Manfredo, department head Human Dimensions of Natural Resources; and Peter Newman, associate dean of Academics in the Warner College. CSU student Leander Lacy who is the first scholarship recipient from this MOU agreement will also be in attendance.

Joining Congressman Thompson from the Congressional Black Caucus Institute are Art Collins, treasurer, Alicia Petersen, director, and Brie Moore.

For more information about the CSU Conservation Leadership through Learning program, visit http://warnercnr.colostate.edu/cltl-home/index.php. For more information about the Congressional Black Caucus Institute, visit http://cbcinstitute.org/db/.

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