Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Writer/Contact:  Joy R. Holloway, 706/542-7849, joyh@uga.edu

Lauth appointed to GAO Advisory Panel

Athens, Ga.—Thomas P. Lauth, Dean of the School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) at the University of Georgia has been appointed by U.S. Comptroller General David M. Walker to the Comptroller General’s Educators’ Advisory Panel.

Comprised of deans of the nation’s top public administration and policy schools, the Advisory Panel receives briefings on current activities of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), advises the Comptroller General on the top fiscal challenges facing the nation, and consults with GAO on its recruitment of students from public administration and policy schools. Dean Lauth participated in the Advisory Panel meeting on June 14, 2006, in Washington, DC.

Dean Lauth is an expert in the area of public finance and the state budget process. He is the coauthor of The Politics of State and City Administration, and coeditor of Governors, Legislatures, and Budgets: Diversity across the American States. Lauth has been serving as Dean since 2002.

SPIA prepares students for careers in public service in Georgia, the nation and the world and is fast becoming recognized as a national and international leader in public affairs research and education.  The School’s master of public administration program is one of the nation's best for public service education and is currently ranked 3rd in the nation among hundreds of public affairs programs (U.S. News & World Report).

Founded in 1921, the GAO is a legislative branch agency charged with the responsibility of improving the performance and accountability of the federal government for the benefit of the American people. GAO has earned a reputation for objective, fact-based, and nonpartisan reviews of government issues and operations.

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Note to editors:  Photo for Thomas P. Lauth available at: http://www.uga.edu/spia/about/dean.htm