UMSL center begins search for co-directors

The University of Missouri-St. Louis has begun a national search for co-directors of the newly established Center for Ethics in Public Life.

One director will be a practitioner with demonstrated public service experience and a commitment to integrity in government. The other director will be an academic with a focus on scholarly interests and research concentration in the field of public service ethics.

The Center for Ethics in Public Life at UMSL was created with funding from the Missouri State Legislature. It was established to provide ethics education and resources to those engaged in public service. The center also will conduct research on issues of ethics in public policy and administrative settings, especially at the state and local levels.

"People don't always enter the public service arena automatically knowing exactly what's ethically right or wrong," said former Missouri State Sen. Betty Sims, co-chair of the center's community advisory board. "This is an opportunity to educate Missouri citizens interested in public service."

The co-directors will work together to manage the center administratively and offer educational and outreach programming to public officials, as well as the general public. They also will direct the outreach and practice functions of the center.

"It wasn't too many years ago that [ Missouri] secretary of state [Judith Moriarty] was basically impeached over ethical issues," said former Missouri State Sen. Wayne Goode, co-chair of the center's community advisory board. "The education process, or orientation, for new elected officials needs to be beefed up with more emphasis put on ethical issues. This is an innovative way to do that."

The co-directors will report to UMSL Provost Glen Cope. A university faculty advisory task force will provide academic and research advice and support. A bipartisan community advisory board of 11 former elected and appointed officials will ensure the center is effectively assisting individuals in public service to meet the practical ethical challenges of their profession.

Visit http://www.umsl.edu/services/ethics for more information, to view complete co-director position descriptions and application requirements.

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