Sarasota Herald-Tribune Names New College's Frank Alcock among "Seven to Watch in 2007" 

(January 2, 2007) -- The Sarasota Herald-Tribune has named New College of Florida political science professor Frank Alcock to its select list of "Seven [People] to Watch in 2007."  The list, which appeared as part of the newspaper's New Year's Day coverage, includes key leaders in the arts, business, education, environment, faith, government and non-profit/service sectors from throughout southwest Florida.

The Herald-Tribune selected Alcock because of his environmental efforts aimed at improving the health of Florida's waterways and oceans.  In addition to teaching at New College, Alcock also serves as the director of Mote Marine Laboratory's new Marine Policy Institute, where he has led an effort to bring together leading scientists and policy makers to discuss marine problems, like red tide, and possible solutions to them.

Among others chosen by the newspaper for this year's list of regional movers and shakers were State Senator Lisa Carlton, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee (government); Bishop Frank Dewane, incoming head of the Venice (Florida) diocese of the Catholic Church (faith); Irish developer Patrick Kelly, whose $1 billion development along Sarasota's downtown waterfront promises to have a lasting impact on the local economy (business); Charlotte County School Board member Andrea Messina, one of 15 people chosen for a national commission exploring changes to President Bush's No Child Left Behind program (education); Stacey Laidlaw, project coordinator for Sarasota's innovative Grassroots Leadership Initiative (service); and Michael Edwards, new director for the Asolo Repertory Theater (the arts).

Alcock, who received his Ph.D. from Duke University, has been a member of the New College faculty since 2003.  In addition to teaching courses on world politics, international law, and sustainable development, he has co-authored numerous articles on science-policy relationships in environmental issue areas with an emphasis on marine policies. Prior to obtaining his Ph.D., Alcock spent five years as an international policy analyst/economist at the U.S. Department of Energy.