Thursday, May 19, 2011

Kevin Jennings Leaving Education Department to Head "Be The Change" - Poliglot

Kevin Jennings Leaving Education Department to Head "Be The Change" - Poliglot

Kevin Jennings Leaving Education Department to Head "Be The Change"

Posted by Chris Geidner |
May 19, 2011 1:52 PM |

jennings.jpgThe Be the Change nonprofit announced today that Kevin Jennings, currently serving in the Obama administration's Education Department as the assistant deputy secretary and the head of the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools, will be leaving that role this summer to become the new president and CEO of Be the Change.

Jennings -- who is a prominent out gay member of the Obama administration -- was the subject of significant right-wing outrage when named to the administration position, a topic he discussed in a lunch event with D.C. interns this past summer.

In a news release from Be the Change, Jennings said of his new role, "It has been an honor to serve in the Obama Administration and specifically on Secretary [Arne] Duncan's leadership team at the Department of Education. I am incredibly excited to return to the nonprofit sector by joining the Be the Change team and working on issues like promoting public service and increasing economic opportunity, the kinds of critical challenges we must solve if America is to continue to thrive in the 21st century."

Be the Change was founded in 2007 by current president and CEO Alan Khazei, the co-founder