UO president joins in presentation of Collaborative Service Governance Awards in Salem

Tim hicks, Jessie Conover, Elaine Snowhill and Michael GottfredsonUniversity of Oregon President Michael Gottfredson joined Gov. John Kitzhaber and other dignitaries today (Feb. 21) in presenting this year's Collaborative Service Governance Awards to students including a pair of master's candidates in the UO's Conflict and Dispute Resolution Program.

The awards are hosted by the National Policy Consensus Center (NPCC), an applied research center housed at Portland State University’s College of Urban and Public Affairs. The Collaborative Service Governance Awards recognize students in an NPCC internship program that places students throughout Oregon in Regional Solutions Centers that were established through a partnership between the state and its colleges and universities.

The centers take a grassroots, bottom-up approach to development projects, working at the local level to identify priorities, solve problems and seize opportunities.

"I’m pleased that the University of Oregon is among the partners in this program, and I thank you for the good work you are doing and the solutions you are working – collaboratively – to develop and implement," Gottfredson said during the presentation.

Other speakers included the governor, State Sen. Betsy Johnson and PSU Dean Larry Wallack.

UO master's candidates Elaine Snowhill and Jessie Conover were among the students who received this year's Collaborative Service Governance Awards. Both are in the UO School of Law's Conflict and Dispute Resolution Program.

Gottfredson also attended a reception hosted by Senate President Peter Courtney for Olympic gold medalist and UO alum Ashton Eaton, and watched from the floor of the Senate as Eaton spoke to legislators.

While in Salem, Gottfredson took the opportunity to meet with lawmakers and discuss UO priorities including bond funding for construction of a new science library.