Jeanne D_Ascoli Named Manager of Brookhaven Lab_s Community Relations Office
May 6, 2004
Upton, NY - Jeanne D_Ascoli has been named Manager of the Community Relations Office at the U.S. Department of Energy_s Brookhaven National Laboratory, effective April 1. She succeeds Kathleen Geiger, who has become Special Assistant to Marge Lynch, the Assistant Laboratory Director for Community, Education, Government, and Public Affairs.
Brookhaven_s Community Relations Office supports senior management's commitment to be a good neighbor and valued employer. "I am very pleased to accept this position," D'Ascoli said. "My staff and I are looking forward to continuing to build and maintain positive relationships with the community. I'm also especially excited about having an opportunity to focus on the important challenge of enhancing our communication of the benefits of the Laboratory's science to the public through our many programs."
D'Ascoli, a principal in developing the model for the Laboratory's Community Advisory Council (CAC), has served as liaison to the group since its beginning more than five years ago. The CAC advises the Brookhaven Lab Director on issues related to the Laboratory that are important to the community. The group is composed of approximately 30 member organizations representing business, civic, education, employee, community, and environment and health organizations.
In addition to implementing the Lab's many community involvement activities, the Community Relations Office sponsors numerous outreach programs with the support of hundreds of employee volunteers. "There is no substitute for their enthusiasm for sharing the Laboratory's exciting science!" said D'Ascoli.
Summer Sunday tours and the year-round tour program welcome more than 8,000 visitors to the Laboratory each year. The Envoy Program, considered a model in building face-to-face relationships, educates employee volunteers and provides a link to local community organizations. Feedback shared by envoys helps the Lab have a better understanding of local community perspectives. Speakers' Bureau provides speakers for educational and other organizations interested in Brookhaven. The Volunteers in Partnership program supports Lab employees_ volunteer efforts in the community through networking, advertising, and financial help for charitable organizations.
D'Ascoli has also assumed responsibility for managing the Laboratory's environmental community relations.
Before coming to Brookhaven Lab, D_Ascoli owned a childcare business, and she also worked as an office manager and editor for consultants in change management and education. D_Ascoli joined the Laboratory in 1989, and she worked for the Reactor Division before being assigned to the Director_s Office to help develop a Lab-wide Community Relations Plan. In January 2001, D_Ascoli became a supervisor in the Community Relations Office, a position she held until her current appointment.
2004-10172 | INT/EXT | Newsroom
