The New England Resource Center for Higher Education&emdash;or NERCHE&emdash;is known to thousands of individuals in New England for its work in strengthening academic and civic life. More than 500 individuals have participated in NERCHE's think-tanks, which have provided forums for chief student affairs officers, senior academic administrators, associate academic deans, department chairs, chief financial officers and others. NERCHE's research projects, visiting fellowships, conferences, workshops outreach and consulting influenced thousands more.
To celebrate its tenth birthday on Nov. 12, NERCHE hosts a conference at the John F. Kennedy Library. Speakers from a variety of foundations, universities, and community groups will offer their words on the topic of "Community Building: An Agenda for Higher Education and its Communities."
Besides members of the UMass community, including NERCHE Director Zelda Gamson, President William Bulger, Chancellor Penney, Prof. Peter Kiang, and Special Assistant to the Chancellor Hubie Jones, other presenters include: Alison Bernstein, Ford Foundation vice president; Peter Kiang, UMass Boston professor of education; Frances Moore Lappé, co-director, Center for Living Democracy; Charlotte Kahn,director, Boston Community Building Network, Boston Foundation; Cesar McDowell, director, MIT Community Fellows Program; Melvin H. King, MIT professor emeritus, and Boston community organizer; Hodding Carter III, president, John S. and James L Knight Foundation; Frank Newman, president, Education Commission of the States; Judith A. Ramaley, president, University of Vermont; Margaret McKenna, president, Lesley College; Evan Dobelle, president, Trinity College; and Chuck Collins, co-director, United for a Fair Economy.
For more information on NERCHE's tenth anniversary event, call The New England Resource Center for Higher Education at 7-7740.