UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry this month appointed Mark Brennan, a Penn State faculty member in the Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology and Education, to the U.S. National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, commonly referred to as UNESCO.
The educational arm of the United Nations, UNESCO seeks to promote peace, security and human rights by promoting international educational, scientific and cultural collaboration. It pursues these objectives through five major programs: education, natural sciences, social/human sciences, culture and communication/information.
The U.S. National Commission consists of senior representatives of industry, nongovernmental organizations, foundations and government, as well as high-ranking academics. The commission serves a major advisory role to the State Department and fosters wider U.S. government relationships with UNESCO and other United Nations bodies.
"I am deeply honored to accept this appointment from Secretary Kerry and to continue the important role of Penn State within UNESCO," Brennan said.
Penn State has a historical connection with the National Commission. Penn State President Milton Eisenhower was a founding member of UNESCO and served as the first chairman of the U.S. National Commission. He also represented the United States at the inaugural UNESCO conferences in Paris, Mexico City and Beirut.