August 19, 2011

GOV. MALLOY APPOINTS NAOMI COHEN AS CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR COMMUNITY-TECHNICAL COLLEGES

(HARTFORD, CT) - Governor Dannel P. Malloy today appointed Naomi Cohen as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Community-Technical Colleges. Cohen will serve as Chairman of the Board through December 31, 2011. Cohen, who lives in Bloomfield, is a former member of the Connecticut House of Representatives and the former House chairman of the General Assembly's Education Committee.

"Naomi's broad experience - working to advance primary, secondary and higher education instruction, as a state representative and as a member of Bloomfield's Board of Education and a board member of the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education - will be a huge asset as she leads the board through this period of transition," said Governor Malloy. "In addition, I know Naomi will provide great counsel to the Board of Regents of Higher Education as it works to keep the missions of the regional state universities, community colleges and Charter Oak State College distinct, while at the same time streamlining administration and working to ensure that more money flows toward classroom instruction and preparation."

"I am honored Gov. Malloy feels that my experience would be a good fit to chair the Board of Trustees for Community-Technical Colleges through this critical period," said Ms. Cohen. "My work in education policy and planning, legislating and accreditation has convinced me of the great benefits associated with the consolidation of the administrative functions of our community-technical colleges, regional universities and Charter Oak State College. But as a graduate of Charter Oak State College myself, I also understand the desire to keep the identities and missions of the separate bodies intact. I look forward to working with the other board members and Governor Malloy's administration to ensure that student learning and preparation is our number one priority."

Cohen graduated from Charter Oak State College and has a master's degree from the University of Hartford. In addition to serving in local government, she represented Bloomfield in the House of Representatives from 1983-1993 and was House chairman of the General Assembly's Education Committee from 1987-1991. In addition to her elected experience, Cohen was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Education to the National Assessment Governing Board to develop a national policy on student testing and standards. Cohen was also a board member and vice chair of the Education Commission of the States and represented Connecticut on the New England Association of Schools and Colleges on its Executive Committee.

Currently, Cohen is the chair of the Bloomfield Elementary School Building and Renovations Committee; the co-founder of the Hartford Jewish Coalition for Literacy and chair of the Board of Visitors of the Greenberg Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Hartford.

###

For Immediate Release: August 19, 2011

Contact: Colleen Flanagan

Colleen.Flanagan@ct.gov

860-524-7308 (office)
860-770-8090 (cell)

Twitter: @GovMalloyOffice

Facebook: Office of Governor Dannel P. Malloy