Scripps CEO Reappointed to United Nations Commission

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has reappointed Scripps President and CEO Chris Van Gorder to the United States National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for a three-year term. Scripps is currently the only health care organization on the commission.

“I am honored to have been reappointed by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to serve on the United States National Commission for UNESCO,” Van Gorder said. “Participating in the good work of this esteemed organization has been a privilege and I look forward to continuing my service on the commission.”

In her letter reappointing Van Gorder to the commission’s science committee, Secretary of State Rice said: “I am confident Scripps Health will continue to contribute significantly to the value of the Commission’s work.”

Van Gorder is one of the commission’s representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGO). Other NGO’s on the commission include: National Geographic Society, National Academy of Sciences, and the American Geological Society.

The National Commission provides advice to the U.S. government on matters relating to UNESCO and serves as a liaison with organizations, institutions and individuals interested in working with UNESCO. Members of the commission will provide U.S. Department of State with expert advice on U.S. interests in educational, scientific, cultural and communications issues at UNESCO and assist with the implementation of UNESCO programs in the U.S.

UNESCO promotes international cooperation among 196 nations in the fields of education, science, culture and communication, through activities such as building classrooms in countries devastated by natural disasters, providing the ability to sustain clean drinking water or publishing scientific breakthroughs.