Amy Carrier, Alliance Manager since July 2003, spent her last day with ARS on January 20^th.  Amy came to ARS from Georgetown University, where she received a Masters in Public Policy and had worked as a research analyst in the alumni office.  As the sole full-time staff member of ARS, Amy quickly took over the many day-to-day details of managing the organization.

During her time with ARS, Amy oversaw five National Forums and coordinated two years of the ARS Regional Stewardship Awards.  She took over the monthly e-newsletter in January 2005, changing the format and introducing the ?Regional Files,? and was responsible for the upkeep of the ARS website.  Amy also developed RegionLink, ARS?s newest resource for regional practitioners.  She worked closely with the Board of Directors to oversee the implementation of new programs and activities, and to build ARS?s national network of practitioners.

After her first year in Denver, Amy began pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Colorado at Denver's Graduate School of Public Affairs (GSPA), where her research is focused on strategic planning in higher education.  She is currently completing her final class, and will soon begin working on her dissertation.  Amy and her husband, Bryon, who was working on his own Ph.D. at Colorado State University, are returning to Washington, D.C. Bryon relocated in December; Amy will join him this summer.  During her final months in Denver, Amy will be teaching statistics for GSPA?s MPA program, and working part-time for the Assessment & Testing Center at Metropolitan State College of Denver.

We will miss her energy and management abilities.  She has been a key to the successful growth of this wonderful network. Michele Baker will be acting as interim Alliance Manager. She can be reached at the ARS phone or via email at .