The Cornell Public Service Center has announced the selection of the two fellows for the fourth annual Cornell Civic Leaders Fellowship Program, Gary Ferguson and George Ferrari. The program enables outstanding community leaders involved in economic and community development efforts to join the Cornell University community of scholars as both learners and teachers for an academic year to work on projects that address community-identified needs.

The Cornell Civic Leaders Fellowship Program was established to help expand and improve university-community collaborations. During their time at Cornell, the new fellows will work to advance proposals that will have a lasting effect on their community. The opportunity for community leaders, college students and faculty to learn from each other is rare but invaluable and enriches the education of all involved, program administrators say. A committee with representation from the community and the university selected the fellows from an impressive and highly qualified group of applicants.

The two new fellows are listed below, with a brief description of their proposals.

Gary Ferguson , Ithaca -- Ferguson came to Ithaca in 1999 from Dayton, Ohio, to become the executive director of the Ithaca Downtown Partnership. During his time in Ithaca, he has been involved with or served as a board member for a variety of organizations, among them: the Museum of the Earth, the History Center, the Sciencenter and the Tompkins County Public Library. In addition, he serves on a number of state and national organizations, including the Board of the International Downtown Associations.

Ferguson's proposal seeks to initiate a long-term research project that systematically addresses and examines critical issues related specifically to sustained and successful downtown revitalization and viability. Ferguson's research will provide the Ithaca community with data and information currently not available, representing both exemplary and successful cities, as well as those that have struggled and failed, and the contributing factors that will allow for sound development in the Ithaca community. George Ferrari , Ithaca -- Ferrari, a 1984 Cornell graduate, has been a committed and active participant in the Tompkins County community for more than 20 years. And within the nonprofit realm, he has served in every capacity -- volunteer, staff member, executive director, board member and founder. He currently serves as the executive director of Catholic Charities of Tompkins-Tioga Counties. Ferrari has served on committees for Compass II, Cayuga Medical Center and Sustainable Tompkins and as chair of the Human Services Coalition's monthly forum meetings.

Ferrari's proposal seeks to address the changing climate and status of community-based nonprofit organizations in the United States today. He plans to do this by researching and analyzing the environment from economic, legal, organization management and community organizing perspectives. The outcome will provide a better understanding of the forces that are affecting nonprofit organizations today and recommendations for new operational strategies, as well as procedures and increased resources for planning and advocacy.

The Cornell Public Service Center, the Community and Rural Development Institute of Cornell, and the Cornell Department of City and Regional Planning are the sponsors of the Cornell Civic Leaders Fellowship Program. To learn more about the program or the Cornell Public Service Center, visit the center's Web site at http://www.psc.cornell.edu or call the office at (607) 255-1148.