 |
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
 |
- Global Learning Portal
An internet interactive space for educators, education institutions, and government to work together to solve education challenges
- EdData II
Provides survey expertise to help assess education status and to design methods for improvement
- EQUIP 123
USAID’s Educational Quality Improvement Program
- Global Education Database
A repository of international education statistics compiled from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics and the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS)
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas Corts Dies, Led Basic Education Initiatives
FrontLines - March 2009
Thomas Corts
|
Thomas Corts, the U.S. government’s
former basic education
coordinator,
died suddenly Feb. 4 in Birmingham, Ala. He was 67.
He was appointed to the position,
which was formally part of the State Department’s Office of the Director of Foreign Assistance, by President George W. Bush in October 2007. Corts served concurrently
as the coordinator of the Initiative to Expand Education, a USAID effort to improve basic education in Ethiopia, Ghana, Honduras, Liberia, Mali, and Yemen—countries that have demonstrated
a strong commitment to educational improvement.
During his tenure, Corts worked with several U.S.
government agencies, the White House, the U.S. Congress, the private sector, and leading education
experts to research and develop a U.S. strategy for basic education. He traveled extensively,
visiting USAID activities in Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.
“Dr. Corts is remembered for his keen intellect, devotion to development in the field of education,
and his unfailing kind and considerate manner,” said Joseph Carney, director of the Office of Education in the Bureau for Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade. Corts left his position as coordinator in January.
Corts was born in 1941 in Terre Haute, Ind., graduated from Georgetown College in Kentucky, and held master’s and doctoral degrees from Indiana University.
He was named president of Wingate University in North Carolina in 1974 and served there for nine years until he was elected president of Samford University in Birmingham. Corts led Samford for 23 years until his retirement in 2006.
Afterwards, he served briefly as interim chancellor of Alabama’s two-year college system. Corts also served as president of the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the American Association of Presidents of Independent Colleges and Universities.
Corts is survived by his wife of 44 years, Marla, two daughters,
a son, and six grandchildren.
Memorial services to honor Corts were held on Feb. 8 at Samford University and Feb. 20 at USAID’s Washington headquarters.
In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested that memorial gifts be sent to the Corts Scholarship Fund, Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Dr., Birmingham, Ala. 35229, or to Eddie Gibson International Ministries, P.O. Box 610188, Birmingham, Ala. 35261.
★
FrontLines is published
by the Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs
U.S. Agency for International Development
To have FrontLines delivered
to you via postal mail, please subscribe.
Material should be submitted
by mail to Editor, FrontLines, USAID,
RRB, Suite 6.10, Washington, DC 20523-6100;
by FAX to 202-216-3035; or by e-mail to frontlines@usaid.gov
To view PDF files, download
the Adobe
Acrobat Reader.
Back to Top ^
|
