Atlanta – Budget challenges, changing demographics and globalization are just a few of the pressures facing tertiary education in the nation and in Georgia. The basis of Georgia’s education infrastructure is over 60 years old and issues of accountability, good management practices and quality of product need to be examined and overhauled.

We know why. Now it’s time to look at "who, what, when and how" the state must meet these challenges.

Judge Griffin Bell will launch the discussion on Wednesday, Jan. 18, when he keynotes at the Georgia Public Policy Foundation’s first Policy Briefing Luncheon of 2006, “Higher Expectations for Higher Education,” at noon at Atlanta’s Commerce Club. The luncheon featuring Judge Bell is the most recent in a series of events highlighting one of the Foundation’s key initiatives for Georgia: education.

Judge Bell, former U.S. Attorney General and 1999 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award in Trusteeship by the Association of Governing Boards and Universities, has been described by President Bush as “one of Georgia's most distinguished citizens.” A longtime trustee of Mercer University where he graduated, cum laude, from Law School in 1948, he is currently Senior Counsel to King & Spalding, the firm he joined as a partner in 1953. He has served under several presidents, beginning in 1961, when President John F. Kennedy appointed him to serve as a U.S. Circuit Judge on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. He served on the Fifth Circuit for 15 years and was the 72nd Attorney General of the United States from 1977-79. In 1960, as chief of staff to Georgia Governor Ernest Vandiver, Bell played a key part in organizing the Sibley Commission, which provided the blueprint for desegregation of Georgia’s schools.

Judge Bell was the initial Chairman of the Atlanta Commission on Crime and Juvenile Delinquency. During 1980, he headed the American delegation to the conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, held in Madrid. In 1984, Judge Bell received the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation Award for Excellence in Law. In 1989, he was appointed Vice Chairman of President Bush’s Commission on Federal Ethics Law Reform. During the Iran Contra investigation, he was counsel to President Bush.

His principal focus in recent years has been advice and counsel on matters related to corporate crime. His work for E. F. Hutton and the Independent Litigation committee of Exxon Corporation emphasized his experience and interest in all phases of internal corporation investigations. In 1995 he received the Freedom Award from The Georgia Public Policy Foundation for his outstanding contributions to making our state a better place for all Georgians.

Reserve your seat by Monday Jan. 16 for the Policy Briefing Luncheon, which costs $25 for Foundation members/guests and $30 for non-members. Make reservations by mail with your check or MasterCard/Visa, e-mail reservations@gppf.org or call 404-256-4050.

Media interested in attending this event contact Benita Dodd at benitadodd@gppf.org or 404-256-4050.