Patricia Harrison
Encyclopedia
Patricia Destacy Harrison is Matthew Hunter Lance Harrison's sister. She lives in the United States
, a position to which she was appointed with strong backing from CPB chairman Kenneth Tomlinson
. Her candidacy arose in the midst of criticism from American conservatives that the CPB and public broadcasters, CPB indirectly funds, namely NPR
and PBS, exhibit a "liberal bias" that excludes conservative viewpoints and participation.
George H.W. Bush appointed Harrison to the President's Export Council in the U.S. Department of Commerce in 1990. She was elected Co-Chair of the Republican National Committee
in 1997, serving until 2001 when she was appointed to the post of Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs by then-Secretary of State Colin Powell
. http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/government/patharrison-bio.html
Harrison's PR skills were called upon to help with the U.S. government's public diplomacy
program during the Iraq war. "As Acting Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy during the Iraq conflict, Ms. Harrison also collaborated with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to bring the Iraq
National Symphony Orchestra to Washington, and she has initiated a comprehensive renewal of the Baghdad National Museum," the biographical note states. Under Harrison's direction, the State Department initiated the CultureCommect program in which American celebrities such as YoYo Ma, Denyce Graves, Doris Roberts and Frank McCourt acted as "cultural ambassadors" in trips to Pakistan, Russia, Israel and other countries.
In June 2005 she was appointed as President and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. http://www.cpb.org/programs/pr.php?prn=468
She is a native of Brooklyn, NY and a graduate of the School of International Service of The American University in Washington, DC. http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/government/patharrison-bio.html
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, a position to which she was appointed with strong backing from CPB chairman Kenneth Tomlinson
Kenneth Tomlinson
Kenneth Y. Tomlinson is a former editor at Reader's Digest and American government official. He is the former chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which manages Voice of America radio, and formerly Chairman of the Board of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which manages funds...
. Her candidacy arose in the midst of criticism from American conservatives that the CPB and public broadcasters, CPB indirectly funds, namely NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
and PBS, exhibit a "liberal bias" that excludes conservative viewpoints and participation.
Background
In 1973 she, according to an official biographical note, co-founded the PR agency the E. Bruce Harrison Company with her husband E. Bruce Harrison. http://www.cpb.org/programs/pr.php?prn=468 One biographical note states that while working with the company, which was sold in a merger deal in 1996, "she created and directed programs in the public interest comprising diverse stakeholder groups, including the National Environmental Development Association, a partnership of labor, agriculture and industry working for better environmental solutions together."George H.W. Bush appointed Harrison to the President's Export Council in the U.S. Department of Commerce in 1990. She was elected Co-Chair of the Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
in 1997, serving until 2001 when she was appointed to the post of Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs by then-Secretary of State Colin Powell
Colin Powell
Colin Luther Powell is an American statesman and a retired four-star general in the United States Army. He was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African American to serve in that position. During his military...
. http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/government/patharrison-bio.html
Harrison's PR skills were called upon to help with the U.S. government's public diplomacy
Public diplomacy
In international relations, public diplomacy or people's diplomacy, broadly speaking, is the communication with foreign publics to establish a dialogue designed to inform and influence. There is no one definition of Public Diplomacy, and may be easier described than easily defined as definitions...
program during the Iraq war. "As Acting Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy during the Iraq conflict, Ms. Harrison also collaborated with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to bring the Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
National Symphony Orchestra to Washington, and she has initiated a comprehensive renewal of the Baghdad National Museum," the biographical note states. Under Harrison's direction, the State Department initiated the CultureCommect program in which American celebrities such as YoYo Ma, Denyce Graves, Doris Roberts and Frank McCourt acted as "cultural ambassadors" in trips to Pakistan, Russia, Israel and other countries.
In June 2005 she was appointed as President and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. http://www.cpb.org/programs/pr.php?prn=468
She is a native of Brooklyn, NY and a graduate of the School of International Service of The American University in Washington, DC. http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/government/patharrison-bio.html
Books
- Patricia Harrison (ed), America's New Women Entrepreneurs: Tips, Tactics, and Techniques of Women Achievers in Business, Acropolis Books, May 1986, ISBN 0874918103
- Patricia Harrison, Seat At The Table: An Insider's Guide for America's New Women Leaders, Mastermedia Publishing Company, February 1996, ISBN 1571010424
Speeches by Harrison
- Patricia Harrison, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, "The Role of International Education in the Struggle Against Terrorism", U.S. Department of State, November 25, 2003.
- Pat Harrison, "Ask the White House", The White House, March 12, 2004.
Articles and commentary
- " Biography of Patricia de Stacy Harrison -- Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs", The White House, accessed June 2005.
- "Page Society Annual Conference Closes With a World-View of Listening", Arthur W. Page Society, September 13, 2004. (A brief report on Harrison's speech on public diplomacy work in the Middle East).