BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has appointed Barbara J. Ford, director of the Mortenson Center for International Library Programs and a professor at the library at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, to the United States National Commission for UNESCO.
Ford, class of 1968, will serve a three-year term and represent the American Library Association (ALA), of which she is past-president.
“I am honored to serve my country in this capacity,” said Ford. “UNESCO objectives include attaining quality education for all and lifelong learning; fostering cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and a culture of peace; and building inclusive knowledge societies through information and communication. Libraries can play very important roles in these issues and connect other individuals and organizations working in these areas and I am pleased to be able to assist with this on the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO.”
The National Commission consists of 100 members who assist with global initiatives focused on communication, education, social science, natural science and culture. The Commission serves as a Federal advisory committee to the U.S. Government through the Department of the State. It works with UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, Cultural Organization, founded in 1945 to eradicate poverty, sustain development and promote an intercultural dialogue of peace.