THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

             PRESIDENT CLINTON APPOINTS WHITE HOUSE FELLOWS
                    TO SERVE DURING TRANSITION YEAR
       7th Change in Administrations to be Experienced by Fellows
                          Since Program Began

     The bipartisan Commission on White House Fellowships selected 10

men and 5 women this past weekend to serve as the 36th class of White House Fellows. Starting on September 1, 2000, each Fellow will report to work for a member of the Cabinet or a senior White House official. When the newly elected Administration shows up in January 2001, the Fellows will be in place to welcome and acclimate the new Cabinet secretaries and agency heads as they have done seven times before. With this in mind, the 32-member Commission selected from among the 30 national finalists those people most qualified to serve the nation during the often disruptive and always difficult year following the election of a new President.

The transition year Fellows are a little bit older than usual and even the youngest were judged on their level of maturity. For example, the 28-year-old advisor to Washington Governor Gary Locke or the 30-year-old Massachusetts Teacher of the Year. Most have broad professional experience evidencing their ability to be flexible and entrepreneurial. For example, the advisor to Philadelphia's police commissioner who was also an Assistant District Attorney in the Bronx and a beat cop in Harlem or the pediatric emergency physician who directs community-based injury prevention programs in Rhode Island. Several have unique life experiences that demonstrate the resilience and perseverance necessary to serve in a transition year. For example, the former Green Beret from Hawaii who lost his left hand protecting his troops from a faulty explosive device and has recreated himself as an advocate for the disabled and potential public servant. Six of the 15 selected are military officers (3 Navy, 2 Army and 1 Air Force) who not only are pledged to serve the country rather than any particular president but also are trained in a multitude of skills useful to any administration. (See appended list of Fellows.)

Today there are nearly 550 alumni of the Fellowship program, many of whom have returned the year-long investment in them to the country several times over. Colin Powell was a Fellow in 1972-73 and credits the program with providing all the opportunities that came his way. Assistant Secretary of State Julia Taft and INS Commissioner Doris Meissner continue to repay the nation with their service in the government. Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Representatives Tom Campbell (R-CA) and Joe Barton (R-TX) got started in public life through the fellowship program as did former Senator and Under Secretary of State Tim Wirth. Last year, the White House Fellows Alumni Association gave its Legacy of Leadership Award to former Fellow General (ret.) Wesley K. Clark for his role in resolving the conflicts in Bosnia and Kosovo.

Competition for White House Fellowships is very intense with hundreds applying every year for only 11-19 fellowships. The program was started in 1964 by President Lyndon Johnson as a way to involve young people in the leadership of the nation by providing a first-hand experience of government at the highest levels and exposure to national leaders in all fields of endeavor. Fellows work full time, participate in an education program, and travel as a group domestically and internationally to see U.S. policy in action and to view the U.S. from other perspectives. The current class of White House Fellows just returned from two meeting-packed weeks in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa.

Applications for the 2001-2002 White House Fellowships will be available in September and are due February 1, 2001. Applications can be downloaded from the program's website: www.whitehousefellows.gov. Applications can also be requested in the fall by calling 202-395-4522.

White House Fellows Class of 2000-2001 (15)

Kathryn Allen, 35. Hometown: Smyrna, GA. Profession: Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy. B.S., United States Naval Academy (Mechanical Engineering), 1987; M.B.A., University of West Florida, 1992. Currently serving as Operations Officer for 600 person Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (Seabees) deployed to Okinawa, Japan. Previously directed disaster relief missions in Puerto Rico, Honduras, the Philippines and Vietnam; construction of humanitarian relief projects in Indonesia; and support for international forces in East Timor. Named "Unsung Hero of the Community" by her local newspaper, the first military recipient.

David Aronberg, 29. Hometown: Miami, FL. Profession: Senior Attorney, Office of Florida Attorney General, Fort Lauderdale. B.A., Harvard College, 1993; J.D., Harvard Law School, 1996. Currently working on consumer fraud issues with particular emphasis on protecting the elderly. Also serves as special assistant to the Commissioner of Insurance investigating allegations of fraud against companies that refuse to honor World War II-era policies sold to victims of the Holocaust. Drafted unprecedented regulations implementing Florida's landmark Holocaust Insurance Act; compiled claimant database numbering 1,000 and counting. Co-wrote state law on disabled parking and wrote major law review article on gender discrimination in intercollegiate sports.

Scott Berns, 35. Hometown: Foxboro, MA. Profession: Pediatric Emergency Physician, Hasbro Children's Hospital/Rhode Island Hospital, Providence. Founder and co-director of the Injury Prevention Center; founding member of the Committee for Pediatric Advocacy. B.A. (magna cum laude) and M.D., Boston University, 1988 (joint degree program). M.P.H., Harvard School of Public Health, 1995. Recipient of Willis A. Wingert Award for Excellence in Research in Pediatric Emergency Medicine and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's National Public Service Award for his work as founding director of the Rhode Island Buckle-Up Hotline and the founder and chairman of the Providence Safe Communities Partnership. Serves on the boards of the Rhode Island Chapter of the March of Dimes, the RI Safe Kids Coalition, and the Progeria Research Foundation.

Richard Clark, 35. Hometown: Arlington, VA. Profession: Lt. Col., United States Air Force. B-1 Bomber pilot currently serving at The Pentagon as Legislative Liaison Action Officer. B.S., United States Air Force Academy (Management), 1986; M.A., Webster University (Human Resource Development), 1994; M.A., National Security and Strategic Studies, College of Naval Command and Staff, 1998; M.A., School of Advanced Airpower Studies. Served as a B-1 Bomber instructor training Air Force pilots for combat missions. Volunteered in leadership capacity for the Big Brothers and Sisters organizations in Kansas and Texas.

John Fenzel III, 37. Hometown: Dundee, IL. Profession: Major, United States Army. Special Forces Officer previously serving as Operations Officer, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) directing planning and execution of all Special Forces operations in Bosnia, Kosovo and Europe. Now Executive Officer to the Commanding General, U.S. Army Special Operations Command. B.A., Tulane University; M.A., U.S. Naval War College. Founding member and strategy chair of the national organization, Council for Emerging National Security Affairs (CENSA). Selected as the 1991 US Special Operations Command recipient of the Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award. Has written and published on a variety of issues including coalition warfare and leadership during crises and is currently writing a novel based on his experiences in the Balkans.

Michael Fenzel, 32. Hometown: Dundee, IL. Profession: Major, United States Army. Currently serving as a strategist and policy analyst at Army Headquarters, The Pentagon. B.A., The Johns Hopkins University, 1989; M.P.A., JFK School of Government, Harvard University, 1999. Founding member and director of the national organization, Council for Emerging National Security Affairs (CENSA). Selected in 1997 as one of the Army's top 12 active duty Captains for the MacArthur Leadership Award. Wrote a trade book for young officers entitled Platoon Command - A Stylistic Approach to Leading Soldiers and contributed a chapter on Mustafa Kemal at Gallipoli in 1915 for a soon-to-be-published book, By Their Deeds Alone.

John Gallagher, 34. Hometown: New York City. Profession: Attorney; Special Advisor to Police Commissioner, Philadelphia Police Department; former NYC police officer in Harlem at the height of the crack epidemic; prosecuted crimes as Assistant District Attorney in Bronx County. B.S., Long Island University, 1989; J.D., New York University Law School, 1994. Developed internal structure to meet the need in modern policing for timely legal advice. Created a police-stop policy that recognizes and accommodates the mutual goals of protecting citizens from crime and protecting their civil liberties. Has investigated and internally prosecuted police corruption. Served as coach and mentor in Ice Hockey in Harlem program for last 10 years.

Marissa Ghez, 32. Hometown: San Francisco, CA. Profession: Communications Director, Family Violence Prevention Fund. B.A. (High Honors), Harvard University, 1989; M.A., Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania. Developed and launched the nation's first national campaign on domestic violence, featuring the first use of edu-tainment advertising focused on a public health issue. Developed Neighbor-to-Neighbor Domestic Violence Action Kit, a first-of-its-kind resource for community activists which the mayor sent to every police station in San Francisco. Was named Illinois Poet Laureate. Has published extensively on domestic violence issues and on the use of media to advance public interest goals.

Katie Hong, 28. Hometown: Seattle, WA. Profession: Executive Policy Advisor, Governor's Executive Policy Office, Olympia, WA. B.A., University of California at Berkeley, 1993; M.A., University of Chicago, Public Policy (Woodrow Wilson Fellow), 1996. Advises Governor Locke on community and economic development issues and chairs the Governor's Sub-Cabinet on Farm Worker Housing. Developed and help pass the Governor's Economic Vitality Initiative providing more than $70 million in infrastructure funding, tax incentives and increased technical assistance for rural communities. Works with leadership program for girls from low income backgrounds.

Raymond Jefferson, 33. Hometown: Honolulu, HI. Profession: former military officer, now training for life of public service and advocacy on behalf of disabled. B.S., United States Military Academy, West Point, 1988; M.P.A., JFK School of Government, Harvard University, 1998 (Littauer Fellow); M.B.A., Harvard Business School, 2000. Establishing an initiative to provide aesthetic, upper-limb prosthetics to amputees who cannot afford them. Orchestrated the mobilization of entire business school community to provide disaster relief for Honduras hurricane victims. Received the Bert King Fellow Award for leadership, community service and scholarship. Conversant in Mandarin, French and Arabic.

David Lussier, 30. Hometown: Litchfield, NH. Profession: High School Teacher, Andover, MA. B.A., University of Massachusetts Lowell, 1991; M.A.T., Boston University, 1992. As Massachusetts Teacher of the Year 2000 represents 80,000 public school teachers as a spokesperson for education. Worked with teacher preparation program in colleges, conducted workshops for colleagues, and was the voice of teachers in education policy making. Earned title of Master Teacher by attaining National Board Certification in teaching high school social studies. Has taught in both urban and suburban settings. Serves as teacher advisor to Students Against Drunk Driving in Andover.

Lillemor McGoldrick, 29. Hometown: Albany, NY. Profession: Attorney and Adjunct Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, DC. B.A., McGill University, 1993 (First Class Honors); J.D., Georgetown University Law Center (magna cum laude), 1999. Holds teaching certification from the state of California. As clinic supervisor for Georgetown's community legal education program, teaches and trains laws students to teach law in DC public high schools. Served in the Teach for America program in Los Angeles. Has published law review articles on urban education and welfare reform.

Stuart Munsch, 37. Hometown: Oakes, ND. Profession: Commander, U.S. Navy. Currently serving as the Deputy Executive Assistant to the Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command. B.S., United States Naval Academy (with distinction); B.A., Oxford University (Rhodes Scholar), 1988; M.A., Oxford University (politics, philosophy, economics), 1995. Selected to command a nuclear-powered submarine. Certified a Nuclear Engineer Officer by Department of Energy. Designated a Political Scientist Subspecialist by Bureau of Naval Personnel. Founded a Navy Community Relations Project in Bahrain for a school of 4,000 Pakistani children.

Patrick Piercey, 38. Hometown: Tulsa, OK. Profession: Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy. Currently serving at The Pentagon as Policy Planner, The Joint Staff, Directorate for Strategic Plans and Policy. B.S., United States Naval Academy, 1985; M.M.A.S., Army Command and General Staff College, 1995. At the Naval Academy, was an Arleigh Burke Scholar and Secretary of the Navy Distinguished Graduate. Certified as a naval nuclear engineer with extensive computer training and skills. Selected to command a ship after current assignment.

Kathy Ward, 34. Hometown: New Canaan, CT. Profession: Humanitarian Lawyer; Senior Fellow and Counsel, Coalition for International Justice, Washington, DC. B.A., Yale University, 1987; J.D., The University of Chicago, 1992; M.A.L.D., The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, 1993. Helped initiate the Kosovo War Crimes Documentation Project. Assisted the Rwandan Government with a ground-breaking intervention to ensure the trial of an alleged hate-radio leader. Served as caseworker in Croatia and helped resettle Bosnians as country director. Worked as human rights activist in refugee camp on Thai-Cambodian border. Has taught classes, written speeches and articles and given interviews to improve knowledge in US and abroad about war crimes.

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