Betsy Brand to Co-Direct the American Youth Policy Forum
The American Youth Policy Forum (AYPF) announces the selection of Betsy Brand as Co-Director of the organization effective November 4, 1998. Ms. Brand will serve with Co-Director Dr. Glenda Partee. Dr. Samuel Halperin, founder of the Forum, will remain as a Senior Fellow.
Ms. Brand's career in education, training and youth policy began in 1977 when she worked for Representative E. Thomas Coleman, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor. From 1981 to 1983, she served as a Minority Legislative Associate for the House Committee on Education and Labor and subsequently served with Senator Dan Quayle as Professional Staff Member on the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee from 1983 to 1989. In 1990, Ms. Brand was appointed Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education at the U.S. Department of Education. Since 1993, Ms. Brand has operated her own consulting firm, Workforce Futures, Inc., focussing on policy and best practices affecting education, workforce preparation and youth development.
Ms. Brand graduated with a B.A. from Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA and serves on the Board of Directors of the National Child Labor Committee and the Training and Development Corporation.
Ms. Brand brings a vast knowledge of youth programs and policies to the American Youth Policy Forum. She was involved in writing legislation for many of the major federal education and training programs and has worked with states and communities in their implementation of such programs. In addition, as a policymaker herself for many years, she understands the types of information and content that will help Congressional staff, federal agency officials, and state and local policymakers to build effective programs and supports for our nation's youth.
The American Youth Policy Forum, founded in 1993, is a non-profit, non-partisan organization providing professional development opportunities to policymakers working on youth issues at the local, state and national level. The goal of the Forum is to provide participants with useful information, insights and networks that will help them in their work in education, transition-to-employment, national and community service and related policies and programs contributing to the development of healthy and successful young people. Funding for the Forum is provided by a consortium of philanthropic foundations.