UNC's Press release re: Edwards's Center on Poverty, Work & Opportunity

[AP]

UNC-Chapel Hill creates Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity;
names former Sen. John Edwards as director

CHAPEL HILL -- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is launching a Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity that will be led by former U.S. Senator and vice presidential candidate John Edwards.

The Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity will be a nonpartisan initiative, bringing together UNC-Chapel Hill faculty and other national public policy experts to examine innovative and practical ideas for moving more Americans out of poverty and into the middle class. The center will have an advisory committee of senior faculty representing multiple disciplines across campus. In addition to leading the center, Edwards also will serve as a guest lecturer on campus.

"John Edwards is a distinguished Carolina alumnus, and we are delighted that he will return to campus to bring together today’s best minds to focus on issues that affect us all," Chancellor James Moeser said.

Edwards spent six years in the U.S. Senate. In that time, he championed policy initiatives such as raising the minimum wage, expanding the earned income tax credit, creating matching savings accounts for low-income families, and providing incentives for teachers to teach in low-income schools. Edwards also focused on poverty during last year’s presidential campaign.

"The time I spent at Chapel Hill gave me many of the tools I have used all my life to help those who are struggling, and I am so proud that I will be able to continue this work and also give something back to UNC-Chapel Hill," Edwards said. "As director of the center, I will work to explore creative approaches to the difficulties that families in poverty face every day."

"John Edwards will be a marvelous resource for faculty and students across campus," said Law School Dean Gene Nichol. "His life experiences as well as his time as senator and vice presidential candidate make him ideally suited to lead this new center."

At UNC-Chapel Hill, Edwards will hold a part-time, two-year, fixed-term faculty position. He will be designated a University Professor and hold an Alumni Distinguished Professorship, which is funded by private gifts to the University. It takes effect Feb. 14.

...

http://www.unc.edu/news/archives/feb05/edwards020405.html

[KissMeKate]

1. cool

Nice to see Edwards take a position like this- these issues are clearly close to his heart and America needs more focus on them.

Thanks, John Edwards!

[JI7]

2. i bet there will be a rise in students applying to the school

and especially signing up for the class he teaches.

[MattG]

3. YAY! ECONOMIC LIBERALISM

Good Ol' Southern Dems like me!!!

[cestpaspossible]

4. I was hoping for more high-profile role for him.

I hope he can get some national exposure.

[Andromeda]

5. John Edwards is destined for great things.

He's not going away anytime soon and the best is yet to come.

[ThorsHammer]

6. Very nice

It's also great to see a politician emerge from a normal school, and not one of these Yale/Harvard types.