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

   FOR RELEASE                                Contact:  Jim Bradshaw    December 8, 1995                                   (202) 401-2310

In the Education Department the assistant secretary for management oversees administrative functions, including human resources, information systems, labor-management relations and government reinvention activities.

McCowan is departing to become vice president for business services at Herman Miller Inc., an office furniture manufacturer based in Michigan.

"Rod brought a 'can do' attitude to the department, empowering employees to improve the way we do business," Riley said. "The result has been a more efficient organization with a strong sense of mission -- to improve education for all America's children."

Of Berry, Riley said, "Dorothy brings 20 years' experience in management to her new position. She and Rod have been a special team -- complementing and supporting each other in an effort to improve the effectiveness of our operations."

Deputy Secretary Madeleine M. Kunin praised McCowan as "an exceptional leader and manager who shared our vision and commitment to transforming the department into a high- performance, customer-driven agency."

"We will all miss him," she said, "but we're fortunate to have Dorothy Berry, a superb administrator, ready to step in."

Berry worked for the Federal Aviation Administration for 10 years in executive and management positions and was a Presidential Exchange Executive at Texaco Inc. She came to the department in 1993.

She holds a bachelor's degree from Cornell University and a master's degree in public policy from New York University.