From left, CSUB President Lynnette Zelezny, Maddy Director Mark Keppler, Fresno State President Joseph I. Castro, UC Merced Interim Chancellor Nathan Brostrom and Stanislaus State President Ellen Junn. Fresno State photo

The Maddy Institute has announced a major collaboration with the four public universities in the San Joaquin Valley (CSU Stanislaus, CSU Bakersfield, Fresno State and UC Merced) — one which they hope will “help develop the next generation of government and civic leaders” in the region.

“This unique collaboration marks a major advancement in The Maddy Institute’s ability to better serve the residents of the San Joaquin Valley,” said Mark Keppler, executive director of the Institute. “And it does so in an efficient and effective way by enhancing the public policy and public affairs impact by all four capuses on the region.”

The goal of this new alliance is to ensure that Valley students on the four campuses have greater access to legislative internships in Washington, D.C., Sacramento and legislative offices throughout the Valley, as well as the Institute’s $56,000 “Wonderful Public Service Graduate Fellowships.”

The partnership also aims to enhance opportunities for university faculty from the four campuses to collaborate on public policy issues unique to the Valley, and share their findings with Valley residents through the Institute’s media platforms.

This collaboration is also expected to provide federal and state officials with a central organization that can provide them access to the top universities and various media markets throughout the eight-county, 250-mile San Joaquin Valley.