Two IU faculty members nominated to head federal agencies

Bush nominated Bruce M. Cole, Distinguished Professor of fine arts at IU Bloomington, to serve as the next chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). An art historian, Cole previously served on the National Council on the Humanities, the advisory board to the NEH, during the administration of the president’s father, George H. W. Bush.

Cole, pending Senate confirmation, would be the second person with IU ties in three years to head a major federal organization in the arts and humanities. William J. Ivey, an IU alumnus, has been chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts since May 1998.

Les Lenkowsky, a professor of philanthropic studies, public policy and political science at IU’s Indianapolis campus, was nominated in mid-June to serve as executive director of the Corporation for National Service (CNS). CNS is the parent organization of Americorps and several other national volunteer, student and community service programs.

Lenkowsky has been actively involved in bipartisan national and community service initiatives for more than a decade. President Bill Clinton twice appointed him to the CNS board of directors. Former President George H.W. Bush appointed Lenkowsky to CNS’ predecessor organization, the Commission on National and Community Service. On both panels, he served with former IU President Thomas Ehrlich, an early supporter of the development of the IU Center on Philanthropy.

Previously, Lenkowsky was president of the Hudson Institute and of the Institute for Educational

Affairs. He also has served as deputy director of the United States Information Agency. Senate confirmation hearing are anticipated in November.

http://www.iuinfo.indiana.edu/ocm/releases/cole01.htm

http://www.philanthropy.iupui.edu/nr-Lenkowsky-nomination-061501.htm