Staff Changes for the George J. Mitchell Scholarship Program

US-Ireland Alliance president Trina Vargo has announced the departure of Mary Lou Hartman as Director of the George J. Mitchell Scholarship program and the addition of Stuart Brotman as Executive Director of the program and Jennie LaMonte as Managing Director.

"Mary Lou has been a superstar for the Mitchell Scholarship program. She raised the national profile of the program, introduced many new people to the Alliance, and built strong relationships with the universities of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the United States. Most importantly, she has served as an inspiring leader and mentor for our Scholars." Noting that Ms. Hartman, a Peabody-award winning film-maker, is departing to make a documentary film about Northern Ireland with her production company, Half a Bap Productions, Vargo added, 'while we hate to see Mary Lou formally leave the Alliance, we are delighted that she will remain connected to the program, including serving on the distinguished Mitchell Scholarship selection committee." Ms. Hartman presided over many innovations and accomplishments of the program, including an historic event marking the 10th anniversary of the Belfast Agreement, which brought together hundreds of young leaders from across the island with the Mitchell Scholars, and scholarship selection committees with distinguished leaders such as award-winning television producer David Simon, current FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, award-winning novelist Alice McDermott, and White House official and acclaimed human rights activist Samantha Power. During Mary Lou’s tenure, the Mitchell program was recognized by one national columnist as an impressive "legacy to future generations" and "the Irish equivalent of a Rhodes Scholarship."

Ms. Hartman said: "It has been the experience of a lifetime to serve as Director of the Mitchell Scholarship program. The program is a remarkable example of international vision, leadership, and understanding. Senator Mitchell's life and work are the inspiration for the program, and, under Trina Vargo's visionary leadership, the US- Ireland Alliance has been building close and innovative relations between the island of Ireland and the American people. I am deeply privileged to have been a part of the program, and, most of all, to have had the chance to know and work with the outstanding Mitchell Scholars, who already are making tremendous contributions to public life."

Ms. Vargo also announced that Stuart Brotman has joined the Alliance as Executive Director of the George J. Mitchell Scholarship program and Jennie LaMonte as Managing Director of the program.

Mr. Brotman recently served as President and CEO of The Museum of Television & Radio, the premier trust of television and radio’s heritage. In that capacity, he oversaw all Museum operations, both in New York and Los Angeles; a staff of 140 in both locations; a $60 million endowment; and a $16 million annual budget.

Mr. Brotman was Harvard Law School's first faculty member to teach telecommunications and the school's first research fellow in entertainment and media law. He previously was a member of the nation's largest intellectual property law faculty at the Boston University School of Law, teaching the only advanced seminar on entertainment law offered at any American law school. He also taught at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, where he served as a senior fellow at The Fletcher School's Edward R. Murrow Center for International Communications and as an adviser to Fletcher's Program on International Information and Communication.

In 2000, Mr. Brotman was named the first Eisenhower Fellow in telecommunications. Under the leadership of Colin Powell, the Eisenhower Fellowship is a lifetime appointment, and he remains active in its network of 1,700 leaders from 106 countries.

Mr. Brotman has been involved in a variety of seminars and programs of The Aspen Institute, including serving for a decade as a Senior Mentor for the Henry Crown Fellowship Program, an international leadership program for the next generation of business and government leaders, which has included Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and former FCC Chairman Michael Powell.

Mr. Brotman also served as a founding private sector member of the Board of Directors of the United States-Israel Science and Technology Foundation, which was established by President Clinton and Prime Minister Rabin in 1994. In 2002, he was selected to serve as the Foundation’s first American Chairman.

Mr. Brotman received his J.D. from the University of California at Berkeley, where he served as Note and Comment Editor of the California Law Review. He received his M.A. in Communications from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his B.S., summa cum laude, in Communication Studies and Mass Media from Northwestern University.

Trina Vargo welcomed Mr. Brotman’s addition to the staff of the Alliance: "Stuart’s breadth of experience and accomplishments will help us take the Mitchell Scholarship Program to the next level. He will be instrumental in helping us reach our goal of raising a long-term endowment for the program. Additionally, his history of working with many universities and fellowship programs will add a new dimension of leadership to the program, including growing its profile across the United States."

Mr. Brotman said: "The Mitchell Scholarship Program is moving into an exciting new phase of growth as it enters its second decade. Already established as one of the premier post-graduate opportunities available to American college students, it is poised to expand its visibility and impact. I welcome the opportunity to serve such an outstanding program, and especially to working with an expanding Mitchell Scholars network that reflects academic excellence, leadership capabilities and civic values."

Jennie LaMonte has served for the past four years as the Fellowship Advisor at NC State University in Raleigh, North Carolina. In that capacity, she planned and implemented the university’s Fellowship Advising program and managed the Fellowship Advising Office for this public, land-grant, tier-1 research university. Last year, her students won almost $4 million in domestic and international scholarships. She was a Lecturer in the university’s History Department.

Ms. LaMonte served for four years as Assistant Senior Tutor at Dudley House at Harvard, where she was a member of nomination review committees for Harvard students applying for scholarships. She chaired the Graduate Board of the Hasty Pudding Club and Institute of 1770.

Ms. LaMonte previously served as instructor at New England College and the University of New Hampshire. Earlier in her career, she was Associate Director of Annual Giving at Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts, as well as a development officer with other educational non-profits.

Ms. LaMonte is a History PhD candidate at Harvard; she earned an undergraduate degree in Art History at Wellesley, and Masters degrees in History at Lehigh University and Harvard.

Ms. LaMonte is also a professional sailor who has competed in local, regional and national regattas.

Of Ms. LaMonte, Ms. Vargo said: "Jennie’s hands on experience as an advisor to undergraduates and work with those who have successfully applied for the Mitchell Scholarship provides her and the Alliance with a unique perspective on this program. She also has developed and introduced novel web-based advising tools and has extensive fundraising experience. I’m certain that she will help us enhance the scholarship program, build our alumni program as well as continue our valued relationships with the universities in US, Ireland and Northern Ireland."

Ms. LaMonte said: "This is an exciting time to join the Mitchell Scholarships team. The vision of the US-Ireland Alliance, supported by an emerging community of vibrant alumni, sets a high standard for educating tomorrow’s globally-engaged leaders."