July 6, 2009

MEDIA CONTACT: Nick Massella
massella@gwu.edu; 202-994-3087

GW TO HOLD THE FORUM "TIME TO PERFORM:
EVALUATING THE STIMULUS"

EVENT:

At a time when there is greater emphasis on federal agencies to "get the money out the door," GW's Midge Smith Center for Evaluation Effectiveness and the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences present "Time to Perform: Evaluating the Stimulus." Experts will discuss how federal and state agencies can live up to the expectations of the Obama administration. Panelists will provide insight into the thought leadership and evaluation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding and offer helpful tips for program managers who are concerned about how to use evaluation effectively.

WHEN:

Thursday, July 16, 2009; 6 - 7:30 p.m.

SPEAKERS:

Kathryn Newcomer (moderator), director, GW's Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration
Greg Freidman, inspector general, U.S. Department of Energy
Nancy Kingsbury, managing director, Office of Applied Research and Methods - Government Accountability Office
Scott Pace, director, GW's Space Policy Institute (previous performance improvement officer, NASA)
Brian Sigritz, director of state fiscal studies, National Association of State Budget Officers
Joe Wholey, professor emeritus, University of Southern California - School of Policy, Planning, and Development

WHERE:

The George Washington University
Media and Public Affairs Building
Jack Morton Auditorium
805 21st St. NW, Washington, D.C.
Foggy Bottom - GWU Metro Station (Orange and Blue lines)

RSVP:

This event is open to the public. RSVP to tspppa@gwu.edu. Members of the media wishing to attend can RSVP to Nick Massella at massella@gwu.edu or 202-994-3087.

BACKGROUND:

GW's Midge Smith Center for Evaluation Effectiveness creates and facilitates the use of evaluation knowledge and best practices to enhance program performance in the public, nonprofit and private sectors. The center is part of GW's Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration and houses The Evaluators' Institute (TEI), an internationally recognized organization, which was founded in 1995 by Dr. M. F. "Midge" Smith. Dr. Smith, a leader in the field of program evaluation, for whom the Center was named, founded The Evaluators' Institute where renowned evaluation scholars offer comprehensive professional training to participants from more than 80 countries.

The Evaluators' Institute (TEI) at GW builds and supports quality in evaluation practice by offering a concentrated professional development and training curriculum. Instruction is provided by renowned and internationally recognized evaluation experts to participants representing more than 80 counties. TEI harnesses evaluation practice leadership in an effort to provide training in innovative evaluation applications, methods and techniques that inform the decisions made regarding the merits of the interventions that are implemented.

GW's Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences is one of the nation's leading schools of public policy, public administration and public affairs. The school is GW's focal point for public affairs education, as well as research and public service. The school's faculty collaborate closely with other departments on municipal, state, federal and international policy initiatives.

Established in 1821 in the heart of the nation's capital, GW's Columbian College of Arts and Sciences is the largest of the University's academic units with more than 40 departments and programs for undergraduate, graduate and professional studies. Columbian College provides the foundation for GW's commitment to the liberal arts and a broad education for all students. An internationally recognized faculty and active partnerships with prestigious research institutions place Columbian College at the forefront in advancing policy, enhancing culture and transforming lives through research and discovery.

For more news about The George Washington University, visit www.gwnewscenter.org.

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