Regents approve naming of Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies

The state Board of Regents in August approved Georgia State University's request to name its School of Policy Studies after former U.N. Ambassador and longtime civil-rights leader Andrew Young. Andrew Young School Dean Roy Bahl called the naming "a defining moment for our college."

Young "has a background that covers business and government - perfect for a college that includes economics and public management," Bahl told about 500 guests, students, faculty, staff and administrators during a September naming celebration.

A former U.S. congressman and Atlanta mayor, Young is chairman of GoodWorks International consulting group, which advises corporations and governments operating in the global economy. In 1994, President Clinton appointed Young to head the Southern Africa Enterprise Development Fund, a $100 million privately managed fund to provide equity to businesses in the region.

"I cannot think of any other policy maker who is such a perfect fit with the School of Policy Studies," said Georgia State President Carl Patton, who asked the Board of Regents to approve the naming during its Aug. 10-11 meeting in Atlanta.

"Our ideals and philosophy for policy studies are entirely consistent with the remarkable service Andrew Young has demonstrated throughout his life. Over the years, he has been a major force in shaping policy in Atlanta and across the world."

The approval of the naming was a "no-brainer" for the Board of Regents, the governing body of the University System of Georgia, said member Juanita Baranco.

"Sometimes we tend to forget…what a phenomenal human being Andrew truly is, because…he is so approachable, so touchable, so down, so real," Baranco said. "You know, he teases and talks a lot about his schooling and how he wasn't the world's greatest student, but let me assure you, without any reservation or hesitation, that he is a brilliant, brilliant man."

Hope and democracy

The Young School's work represents his own interest in fighting poverty around the world, as well as improving social conditions, Young said.

"For democracy and free enterprise to continue to be relevant, it must be used to eliminate poverty at home and abroad," said Young. "The School of Policy Studies is developing training models that will help people in business and government in emerging economies to learn about democracy by our example. Its faculty members are teaching government bureaucrats from Africa and Jamaica, helping create tax reform in Russia, and working with the Indian government and in Indonesia, among others."

"Here at home, the school's faculty members and researchers are studying health care, humane end-of-life care, how best to educate our children and how to reduce pollution," Young added.

Under its new name, the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies will continue its research and teaching in the areas of urban structure, planning and poverty; the economics of developing countries; environmental policy; health policy; tax reform; regional economics and state and local government finance; human resource development; education policy; public and non-profit management; and transportation.

"Andrew Young's name will do wonders for us. He is a national treasure, known to all and with a following that does not seem to know race, age or national boundaries," said Bahl. "But even more than that, he is active in the college as a public affairs professor of policy studies and lends his considerable imagination to what we are trying to do in the classroom, with policy research and with technical advisory services and outreach.

"Andrew Young is also one who believes, as we do, that partnerships between the private sector and the public sector are the best way to address many of the major problems we face today," Bahl added. "He has an abiding interest in young people and in education - what a perfect match."

Honoring Young's ideals

The school also announced plans to award the Andrew Young Medal for Capitalism and Social Progress.

"The Andrew Young Medal will be given to individuals who, through their leadership, have married the ideals of economic incentive and social equity, much like Andrew Young has done throughout his life," said Atlanta businessman Paul Rosser, chairman of Rosser International Inc. architectural and engineering firm. Rosser heads the Young School's external advisory board.

"The medal will be given very infrequently, to local, national and world figures from the private sector and from government, who have contributed in very special ways to the development of dynamic and robust free economies based on socially responsible capitalism," he added.

Rosser and Young's wife, Carolyn, will serve as co-chairs of the award selection committee.

Research and teaching

The Andrew Young School of Policy Studies is composed of two academic departments: the Department of Economics and the Department of Public Administration and Urban Studies. The school also houses several active research centers:

• the Applied Research Center, which conducts the quarterly Georgia State Poll to gauge public sentiment on political candidates, the economy and other issues of concern to Georgians;

• the Georgia Health Policy Center, whose projects include finding ways to improve care at the end of life, evaluating the state's health insurance program for low-income children and monitoring health-care delivery in Georgia's rural areas;

• the Fiscal Research Program, which regularly advises governments on tax reform issues;

• the Environmental Policy Program, which initiated the statewide effort to improve air quality known as the Partnership for a Smog-Free Georgia;

• the International Studies Program, which is involved in external research and advisory work in numerous countries, including Russia, Uganda, Indonesia and South Africa;

• and the Domestic Studies Program, which looks at various problems affecting urban and regional economic development, such as unemployment, low-birthweight babies, transportation systems and the delivery of public services to the poor.

The Andrew Young School of Policy Studies also has two affiliated research centers:

• Research Atlanta Inc., whose recent research reports have examined parental involvement in middle schools, regional decision-making and private management of public schools;

• and the Council for School Performance, which evaluates Georgia's schools through regularly released "report cards," and recently completed the second year of a 12-year study of the state's Pre-Kindergarten Program.

Photo above: A BANNER DAY. The Honorable Andrew Young spoke of his work in the civil-rights movement and his efforts to promote global economic development during a September event honoring the naming of the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies.