For more archives, go to the Advance Archive/Search Page.
Gov. Rell To Speak On Campus
Gov. M. Jodi Rell will deliver a lecture on ethics and leadership in government on Thursday, Oct. 14 at 10 a.m. in the Student Union Theatre. It is Rell's first visit to the Storrs campus since she became governor in July.
The lecture, "Restoring Public Confidence Through Strong Leadership," is part of the Myles Martel Lecture Series in Leadership and Public Opinion. The talk is free and open to the public.
"No public official in the nation is better qualified than Governor Rell to address this topic," said President Philip E. Austin. "As a legislator and as lieutenant governor, Jodi Rell has been a great friend to the University, and we are delighted to welcome her back as our state's leader."
Rell became governor in July after the resignation of Gov. John Rowland. Some members of his administration were plagued by allegations of unethical and illegal behavior. Rell has taken a strong stance on ethics and has appointed an ethics officer to assist her administration.
Rell is the first Republican female governor of Connecticut, and only the second female governor of the state. She was first elected lieutenant governor in 1994 and was re-elected twice. Previously, she served for 10 years as state representative for the 107th district, Brookfield.
Martel, who received his bachelor's degree from UConn and master's and Ph.D. degrees from Temple University, was President Ronald Reagan's personal debate advisor and an advisor to the White House Office of Communications. He has advised more than 40 U.S. senators, congressmen, governors, and cabinet members, and has served as a mediator and arbitrator, resolving more than 200 disputes in the public and private sectors.
Martel has published five books and been the recipient of numbers honors, including the UConn Distinguished Alumni Award for Outstanding Professional Achievement in 1991.
Martel, and his wife, Leslie, who have homes in Pennsylvania and Florida, established an endowment fund at UConn in 2001 that provides financial support for programs at the Center for Survey Research and Analysis and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. This is the second lecture funded by the endowment.
