For Immediate Release
March 30, 2009
Contacts: Beth Cavanaugh, 301-405-4625 or bcavana@umd.edu

University of Maryland Dean Appointed Director by President Obama

	Ed Montgomery
	Photo Credit Stephen Spartana

College Park, Md. -- President Barack Obama announced today the appointment of Ed Montgomery, Dean of the University of Maryland College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, to Director of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers, part of the Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry. In this capacity, Montgomery will be responsible for coordinating a government-wide effort to help support the workers, communities and regions that rely on the American auto industry.

"When a community is struck by a natural disaster, the nation responds to put it back on its feet. While the storm that has hit our auto towns is not a tornado or a hurricane, the damage is clear, and we must likewise respond," remarked President Obama in a White House speech. "And that's why today I'm designating a new Director of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers to cut through the red tape and ensure that the full resources of our federal government are leveraged to assist the workers, communities, and regions that rely on our auto industry. Edward Montgomery, a former Deputy Labor Secretary, has agreed to serve in this role."

Earlier this year, Montgomery was named by Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and National Economic Council (NEC) Director Larry Summers an official designee to the auto task force to discuss recently submitted restructuring plans from Chrysler LLC and General Motors Corporation.

	President Obama Announces Dean Ed Montgomery's Appointment

"They (auto workers and their families) will have a strong advocate in Ed. He will direct a comprehensive effort that will help lift up the hardest-hit areas by using the unprecedented levels of funding available in our Recovery Act and throughout our government to create new manufacturing jobs and new businesses where they're needed most -- in your communities," said President Obama. "And he will also lead an effort to identify new initiatives we may need to help support your communities going forward."

As dean of the University's largest college, Montgomery provided administrative and academic leadership over more than 5,500 undergraduates and 900 graduate students. The 11 academic departments in the College offer a wide array of innovative degree and non-degree educational programs both at College Park and in China. The global reach of the College is reflected in the breadth of its research programs, which include 42 research centers that combine to make the College the second largest recipient of social science R&D funds in the country.

"We are quite excited that President Obama continues to access the world-class talent available at the University of Maryland," said Nariman Farvardin, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. "We will certainly feel the loss of Dean Montgomery among our academic leadership, but we are very confident that he will be a great public servant on behalf of the nation."

During his tenure, he championed improved quality of the undergraduate experience by reducing class sizes, expanding the use of classroom technology, increasing undergraduate internships and developing an alumni mentorship program. He has increased the College's support for graduate student fellowships and created Dean's Fellows to attract the very best graduate students. At the same time, he has expanded diversity outreach to ensure access to all qualified students and to maintain the College as one of the top five grantors of Ph.D. degrees to underrepresented students.

Prior to becoming dean in 2003, Montgomery served as Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer at the U.S. Department of Labor in the Clinton Administration -- directing the management of a diverse organization of more than 17,000 employees and an annual budget of $32 billion.

Click here to read the March 30, 2009 Remarks by the President on the American Automotive Industry, which includes the announcement of Montgomery's appointment.

For more information on the auto task force, click here.

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