A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                   Contact:  David W. Thomas    March 16, 1994                                     (202) 401-1579 

PATRICIA W. McNEIL NAMED DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY TO OFFICE OF VOCATIONAL AND ADULT EDUCATION

Patricia W. McNeil, president, Workforce Policy Associates in Alexandria, Va., has been named by Education Secretary Richard W. Riley to be deputy assistant secretary for the Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE).

McNeil founded Workforce Policy Associates in 1990. The consulting firm specializes in human resource development, with emphasis on education, training and school-to-work transition programs for youth.

As deputy assistant secretary for OVAE, she will direct and manage the school-to-work initiative, and implement and manage cross-cutting activities within the department.

"Trish brings creative ideas and a wealth of practical experience in education and training," Riley said. "She will strengthen our school reform efforts in school-to-work and vocational adult education initiatives."

From 1986-1990, McNeil was director of the Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Development within the Employment and Training Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor. Before that she was director and chief executive officer of the National Commission for Employment Policy from 1982-1985; she also was director of legislation for the commission from 1980-1982, and worked as a consultant for them from 1979-1980.

McNeil is a member of several employment and training professional organizations, including Training and Development Corporation and the American Society for Training and Development; she chairs the Nontraditional Employment Training Project Advisory Committee, Wider Opportunities for Women.

She has conducted numerous studies on employment and training, as well as published papers and publications on the subject. McNeil received her B.A. degree in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts in 1963.