Contact: Shannon Horvath or Amy Baumer, IPPSR, (517) 355-6672, baumeram@msu.edu; or Gisgie Dávila Gendreau, University Relations, (517) 432-0924, gendrea3@msu.edu 

1/22/04

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Twenty-four fellows have been named to the Michigan Political Leadership Program (MPLP) at Michigan State University, officials announced today.

“We are extremely pleased with this year’s recipients,” said MPLP co-director Anne Mervenne. “Not only do they represent a diverse group of Michigan leaders, but also exhibit the motivation and enthusiasm necessary to take full advantage of the training and resources available during our 10-month program.”

Besides representing various fields of political leadership – ranging from education administration to legal work – the recipients also represent a wide spectrum of political viewpoints.

Each individual receives the $12,000 MPLP fellowship, which runs from February to November. The program seeks to hone public policy decision-making, leadership and campaign management skills through a combination of seminars, lectures and hands-on experiences.

Two fund-raising events for the program are planned and expected to draw the largest multi-partisan crowds of any event in the state. James Carville and Tucker Carlson from CNN’s “Crossfire” will be the featured speakers on March 4 and 5, as follows:

• MPLP Annual Fundraising Dinner, Thursday, March 4, 5:30 to 9 p.m., at the Laurel Manor in Livonia
• MPLP Annual West Michigan Breakfast, Friday, March 5, 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., at the Frederik Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids.

The duo will provide commentary on current state and political issues, covering both sides of the political aisle. Carville, a political consultant and best-selling author, is best known for his long list of electoral successes and re-making political underdogs into upset winners. Carlson, a political analyst and journalist, came to CNN's "Crossfire" from the popular program, "Spin Room."  Carlson has covered politics and crime for publications such as “GQ,” The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

Tickets, at $125 ($100 of which is tax deductible) and sponsorships at all levels are available by contacting MPLP at (517) 355-6672, Ext. 116, or visit www.ippsr.msu.edu/MPLP

The Michigan Political Leadership Program is distinguished as one of only a handful of programs of its kind in the nation and is directed by James Agee and Anne M. Mervenne. MPLP is a program of the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research in MSU’s College of Social Science.

[Editor’s Note: For a list of fellows and their hometowns, visit www.ippsr.msu.edu/MPLP/2004Fellows.htm, or contact Amy Baumer at (517) 355-6672 or baumeram@msu.edu.]