Chancellor Sean O’Keefe’s travels for August and September turned up a full calendar with trips from the East Coast to the West Coast. Fulfilling his obligations to represent the University, O’Keefe’s job has made him a real jet-setter. A few places to which O’Keefe journeyed include Latin America, Washington, D.C., Portland, Ore. and Los Angeles, Calif. Given flight cancellations, delays and long plane rides, O’Keefe said traveling requires time. When he is in the air, he is usually busy composing e-mails. He said his travels are important for raising money for the University and advancing the institution’s visibility. He said Forever LSU campaign-related activities are the reason for most of his trips across the country. Forever LSU is a University campaign aiming to raise $750 million in donation by 2010. O’Keefe meets with steering committees to determine where prospective donations for student scholarships and University funding can come from. “I meet with private supporters, alums, companies and other donors who want to give money to the school,” he said. But not all of his trips bring him to distant locations to meet with donors. O’Keefe went to Latin America from Aug. 18 to 24 with U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, U.S. Department of State representatives and chancellors from seven other universities. The delegation visited Santiago in Chile and San Paulo and Brasilia in Brazil to promote higher education partnerships in the United States for exchange students. They discussed national education policies and collaboration with Chilean and Brazilian universities. On Sept. 9, O’Keefe took a two-day, $1,873.26 trip to Washington, D.C. for the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Deemed Export Advisory Committee meeting. The U.S. Department of Commerce funded O’Keefe’s hotel and airfare only. O’Keefe serves as co-chair on the committee with Norm Augustine, retired CEO and chair of Lockheed Martin. President Bush established the committee to expand competitiveness while protecting U.S. security. At the meeting, O’Keefe helped shape national policy while defining the role of America’s universities.
“My role is to represent the views of the University community,” he said. “The final report we presented to the secretary will influence how federal policy works for universities and companies as far as how people can become aware of technology and intellectual transfer of information.” When O’Keefe is not in meetings on a trip, he said he is either en route to or from the destination; his busy schedule doesn’t permit him to leave any earlier than he has to make the trip. He said he would do all of the necessary work from Baton Rouge if possible. In fact, he said the capital city remains his favorite place even after all his journeys. O’Keefe went back to D.C. from Sept. 19 to 21. The Partnership for Public Service, a non-partisan organization aiming to revitalize government service, covered $1,369.96 worth of expenses, while LSU Foundation private funds covered additional expenses. O’Keefe attended the Service to America Awards ceremony, which was hosted by the Partnership for Public Service. The ceremony honored nine civil servants for their contributions to American well-being, health and safety. O’Keefe also attended the Partnership for Public Service Board of Advisors meeting where he looked at the University’s role in the Call to Serve initiative. “We are one of five universities nationwide, including Stanford, Ohio State, Clark Atlanta and George Washington, that are part of a pilot program to get five universities to join the Call to Serve initiative,” he said. He said the initiative aims to offer more opportunities to work in public service after graduation. O’Keefe said he usually travels alone, but for his trip from Sept. 23 to 26, he was accompanied by Brooks Keel, vice chancellor for research and economic development. He joined more than 100 Baton Rouge leaders for the 2007 Canvas Workshop in Portland. Organized by the Baton Rouge Area Chamber and sponsored by city officials, the workshop looked at the high-tech city as a model for developing the capital region. State covered expenses for the chancellor’s trip totaled $2,100 with additional expenses covered by LSU Foundation private funds. The trip focused on four crucial challenges faced by Baton Rouge – community diversity, environmental sustainability, transportation, smart growth in river cities and developing a knowledge-based economy. O’Keefe went on different tours of the city. The workshop stressed the important role higher education and research institutions play in city development. O’Keefe said the University will act as facilitator for open debate forums for the Baton Rouge community. O’Keefe’s final major trip for the month brought him back to the West Coast to Los Angeles on Sept. 26 to 28. He met with University donors and alumni to discuss the Forever LSU campaign. LSU Foundation private funds covered the trips cost. “The campaign is organized with two committees,” he said. “The College Advisory group and the regional group which are made up of private individuals, alums, companies and supporters that help identify where prospective donations can come from for the University.” This past weekend, O’Keefe traveled to the Southeastern Conference to meet with donors in Atlanta. “It runs in cycles, but it is time well spent,” O’Keefe said. “Sometimes I am out for a day or two, and other times it can be weeks.”
—-Contact Natalie Messina at [email protected]