Mark J. Keppler, an award-winning faculty member who recently completed a highly successful term as the MBA director at California State University, Fresno and has been the driving force behind the Clovis Community Foundation, the Association for the Beautification of Route 99 and the Coalition for Community Trails, has been named executive director of the Kenneth L. Maddy Institute for Public Affairs at Fresno State.

Keppler has been a professor of human resource management in the Craig School of Business at Fresno State since 1987 and was the director of Graduate Programs for the Craig School from 1998 through 2003. A lawyer, Keppler has helped resolve several hundred labor and employment disputes as a mediator for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and as an arbitrator with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. He has also served as a Judge Pro Tem with the Fresno County Superior Court.

The Maddy Institute was established in 1999 with a mission to elevate citizen participation and government performance at all levels through leadership education for public service.

The institute was funded by a $1 million endowment from the state and named to honor Maddy, a Fresno State graduate and respected public servant who represented the Valley in the state Legislature for nearly three decades. He died in February 2000.

Keppler’s appointment by Fresno State President John D. Welty is effective June 1, 2004.

“We are absolutely delighted that Mark Keppler will be joining the Maddy Institute,” said Welty. “He brings a wealth of knowledge, leadership skills and service to our students.”

As executive director, Keppler will serve as the CEO of the institute. He will be responsible for the management of the institute, including seeking grants and other funding; recommending the appointment of the Maddy Professor; preparing and implementing the budget; and coordinating the intern-scholars program.

He also will oversee other Maddy programs, including the Rose Ann Vuich Ethical Leadership Award program, forums and round table discussions and training programs designed for elected officials.

The Maddy Institute also selects five to 10 Fresno State upper division students each year as Maddy Scholar-Interns. They are placed on assignment in government offices in Washington, Sacramento or Fresno.

Don Jackson, chair of the Maddy Institute Board of Directors, said, “The Maddy Institute has recently reorganized as a 501(c)3 and MarkKeppler will provide the leadership and energy needed to expand its activities.”

Keppler succeeds Jeanette Ishii in the role of institute director. The institute has had three Maddy Professors: Dr. Harold H. Haak, Daniel Whitehurst and Jim Costa.

Keppler earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration/economics from the State University of New York. He earned both a master’s degree in industrial relations and his law degree with a concentration in labor and employment law from the University of Wisconsin.

His awards include the Clovis Citizen of the Year, California Department of  Transportation Excellence In Transportation Award, Faculty Advisor of the Year (twice) from the Society of Human Resource Management, Duncan Enterprises Faculty Award and the School of Business Faculty Award for Classroom Excellence.

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