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The Future of the Goddard Chair |
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Future Direction |
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| Maurice K. Goddard's ideal was one of a reasonable and balanced approach to the resolution of natural resource and environmental problems. Because each of the four holders of the Goddard Chair has been guided by this ideal, the Goddard Chair has become recognized as an invaluable resource for Pennsylvania's decision-makers. | |
| In the fifteen years since the first Goddard Professor was appointed, the work of the Chair has been carried out by each of the Goddard Professors in turn, working as individuals. Despite limited resources, the holders of the Goddard Chair have been able to accomplish a remarkable amount by creating collaborative networks and seeking outside funding for specific projects. But what is at stake is too important, large, and complex to be addressed by one person, no matter how effective and dedicated. | |
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Through strategic planning sessions, the Goddard Chair Advisory Committee has developed the goal of enlarging the Goddard Chair endowment to facilitate the advancement of a more comprehensive and proactive agenda--expanding it from an individual to a program. The Chair’s program will build on the current range of activities undertaken by the Goddard Professor-- speaking, writing, project leadership, and teaching--and add new capabilities. Consider what more might be possible if the current work of the Goddard Chair could be strengthened, augmented, and leveraged with additional resources: |
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| Pennsylvania’s environmental and natural resource policy issues tend to be addressed mostly through reaction to specific incidents or actions, such as polluting spills, the passage of new federal legislation, or proposals for locally controversial facilities. Under these circumstances, there are usually time pressure, a polarization of opinion, and limited considerations of the implications of particular solutions. Currently, no mechanisms exist for systematically identifying and addressing emerging issues in a way which allows for thoughtful analysis and dialogue in a non-polarized atmosphere, well in advance of the decision-making process. | |
| With its vision of providing reasonable and balanced approaches to the consideration of environmental and natural resource policy issues, the Goddard Chair is in position to lead the Commonwealth in addressing many of these significant issues proactively. This can be effectively accomplished through periodic "Goddard Forums" on specific issues, to which a wide range of appropriate experts, stakeholders, and decision-makers will be invited. The outcome of forums will be objective analysis, education, and dissemination of information. The goal of these forums and follow-up actions is to anticipate and avoid the most serious conservation problems, allowing businesses to remain productive and profitable and communities to retain their quality of life. | |
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| Expanding the program of the Goddard Chair will require substantial assistance in preparing for the Goddard Forums and following up on the many issues raised and explored in the forums. An enhanced program would engage graduate students interested in natural resource and environmental policy to perform the research, analysis, and related work on the full range of Goddard Chair projects, including facilitating the Goddard Forums and assisting the Goddard Professor with other initiatives and activities. Creating fellowships for graduate students to work with the Goddard Professor will enable these students to gain invaluable real-world experience and insights. The graduate fellows will also conduct their graduate programs in related areas. They will emerge from Penn State as professionals and citizens who are able to lead similar collaborative efforts. | |
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| Penn State and the Commonwealth have been fortunate to attract exemplary individuals to hold the Goddard Chair. Although many candidates are interested in the Chair primarily because of its privilege, honor, visibility, and influence, it is important that the Chair's salary base be maintained at a level that will continue in the future to attract and retain outstanding Goddard Professors. | |
Enhancing the Goddard Chair Endowment |
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| Since 1983, the Goddard Chair has proven to be a force in Pennsylvania conservation leadership. Its recent years, however, have seen increased visibility and impact. The momentum created by Caren Glotfelty has positioned this program to expand the ability of the Goddard Chair to address long-standing environmental problems proactively and to create programs to help Pennsylvanians achieve natural resource sustainability. | |
| In order to accomplish the ambitious vision set forth by the Goddard Chair Advisory Committee, the program requires an additional $50,000 in annual income. Because endowed funds are the most effective way to secure the future of any program, the goal is to increase the Goddard Chair endowment by $1,000,000. This increased endowment, under current University endowment practice, will generate approximately 5% (or $50,000) in "spendable income" while reinvesting the remainder of the fund's total investment return back into the principal to ensure that the endowment will grow over time and maintain its purchasing power in perpetuity. | |
| The potential for the Goddard Chair to augment and strengthen its service to the Commonwealth is enormous. As Pennsylvania enters the 21st Century with an increased commitment to natural resource sustainability and enhanced environmental quality, a much greater number of Pennsylvania businesses, governments, institutions, communities, and individuals will be engaged in environmental problem-solving. Because of its past leadership and reputation for objectivity, the Goddard Chair is in a unique and strategic position to convene and lead the dialogue on many of these issues. With your help, the Goddard Chair can meet not only the objectives of this program, but also the natural resource conservation objectives of all Pennsylvanians. | |
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Charles Strauss - Chairman Richard Yahner - Proxy Robert Steele - Ex-officio Mary Wirth - Proxy |
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| Class of 2005 (term ends 12/31/2005) | |
| External Members | |
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Arthur Davis Andrew McElwaine Maurice Sampson |
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| University Members | |
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Heather Karsten John (Jack) Watson |
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| Class of 2006 (term ends 12/31/2006) | |
| External Members | |
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Joseph Barnard Michael DiBerardinis Caren Glotfelty |
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| University Members | |
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Leslie McRae, Esq. Adam Rose |
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| Class of 2007 (term ends 12/31/2007) | |
| External Members | |
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Chris Bingaman Arundhati (Tinku) Khanwalkar Carroll (Skip) Missimer |
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| University Members | |
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William Easterling Robert (Bobby) McKinstry |
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| Last update June 16, 2005 | |