(Posted April 3, 2001)

James Lakso, Juniata College provost, has been appointed as a member of the Keystone Commission on Education for Employment in the 21st Century for the 2001-2002 legislative session of the Pennsylvania Assembly.

Lakso and 25 other appointees to the commission will meet several times a year to examine how best to improve communication and collaboration between Pennsylvania's educational system and the state's varied and diverse business communities.

The commission will identify specific careers that are most likely to show growth in Pennsylvania over the next decade and identify the specific job skills required by these high-growth occupations.

The commission also will examine the vocational-technical education system and the higher education system to determine how these entities can adapt to the needs of Pennsylvania's business economy. The commission will make recommendations to establish a strategic plan that would better link education to the workplace.

Lakso, provost and vice president for student development, also is professor of economics and business at Juniata. He joined the faculty at Juniata in 1970. He had previously worked as an economist for the U.S. Department of Transportation.

In addition to his teaching at Juniata, he has been assistant academic dean for social sciences, assistant academic dean and director of summer sessions.

Lakso earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Wittenberg University in 1967 and earned his master's and doctoral degrees in economics from the University of Maryland in 1970 and 1973, respectively.

He received the Beachley Distinguished Professor Award in 1983. Lakso is a member of the American Economic Association and is also active in community organizations.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.