Antioch University Los Angeles President Neal King Attends UN Academic Impact Conference

CULVER CITY, CA, December 15, 2010

Antioch University Los Angeles President Neal King, PhD, attended the formal launch of Academic Impact, a UN global higher education initiative, November 18-19, at the UN Headquarters in New York City. President King's participation at the conference came as a result of his membership on both the Executive Committee of the International Association of University Presidents (IAUP) and the IAUP/UN Commission on Disarmament, Education, Conflict Resolution, and Peace.

Academic Impact is a global initiative that aligns institutions of higher education with the United Nations in actively supporting ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, literacy, sustainability and conflict resolution.

The goal of the initiative is to develop and enhance the relationship between the UN and the global higher education sector by offering additional opportunities for academic institutions to be actively involved with the United Nations' mission, policies and actions. Academic Impact asks each participating college or university to actively demonstrate support of at least one of group's ten principles each year.

"The historic UN Academic Impact Initiative (UNAI), with over 500 signatories from around the world, marks the first formal alliance between the UN and Global Higher Education," commented Antioch University Los Angeles President King. "This powerful alliance addresses core issues of social justice, poverty alleviation, access to education, sustainability, and women's rights. It recognizes the crucial role that education plays in societal health, economic stability, and the promotion and preservation of our shared human rights."

Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon presided over the event which welcomed higher education leaders from around the world. In his opening remarks, the Secretary-General noted that in creating Academic Impact and in formalizing a relationship between educators and the United Nations, the academic community will magnify its already positive impact upon the world. Through strong commitment, dedication, and dynamism, the Secretary-General believes that these scholars will help the UN toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger and ensuring universal primary education.

Antioch University Los Angeles is a place where individual spirit thrives, and collective community grows. With more than 6,000 distinguished alumni, AULA has been honored to serve the diverse communities of the greater Los Angeles area since 1972. In addition to a liberal arts undergraduate degree completion program, AULA offers graduate degree programs in clinical psychology, creative writing, teacher credentialing, education, organizational management and urban sustainability. Additional information on Antioch University Los Angeles can be found online at http://www.AntiochLA.edu.

Antioch University is a university in Culver City, CA.