Maddy Institute will train policy makers

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State senators, assembly members and the lieutenant govenor were among more than 100 people on hand to dedicate the Kenneth L. Maddy Institute for Public Policy at Fresno State on Oct. 4.

The dedication ceremony was held in the campus courtyard just south of the Social Science Building.

The tribute honored Maddy, a Fresno State alumnus who is considered one of the state's finest legislators by his colleagues. He represented the Valley for 28 years in the Legislature until his retirement in 1998.

"It is an honor to name the institute after someone with such a distinguished service record to our Valley and state," said Dr. Ellen Gruenbaum, dean of the College of Social Sciences.

Fresno Sen. Chuck Poochigian, who was instrumental in quickly gaining support to pass the bill through the Senate, said Maddy has been a role model for public administration students to emulate.

"The creation of a policy institute bearing the name of Senator Maddy is a fitting tribute to a man who has dedicated his life to serving others," said Poochigian. "It is difficult to adequately express the positive feeling of being associated with something this special that received such enthusiastic and virtually unanimous support from both houses of the Legislature and the Governor."

The state appropriation for the institute totals $1.1 million and will provide public leadership training in two primary areas. First, students will be eligible for internships with local, state and federal government officials. Second, the institute will serve as a training facility for elected officials, offering instruction in public finance, staff administration, budget planning, drafting of legislation and the legislative process.

According to the bill, the institute will sponsor regular roundtable discussions among experienced elected officials on topics related to public administration, emerging public policy and legislation in their areas of government service.

The bill also establishes the Kenneth L. Maddy Professorship of Public Administration for a faculty member who directs the institute and its curriculum. The professorship requires applicants to be specialists in public administration or political science, with particular interest or expertise in state government.

Maddy graduated from Fresno State with a bachelor of science in agriculture in 1957. In 1981 he received the university's Distinguished Alumnus Award, and in 1998, at the Agricultural Sciences and Technology Honors Convocation, he received the President's Medal of Distinction from President John Welty.

Maddy, who was on hand for the dedication of the new institute, is donating his official papers to the Central Valley Political Archives housed in the Henry Madden Library at Fresno State.