Woodbury University

Gary Moskowitz HILLSIDE DISTRICT -- Thomas Harrington has been appointed as the new dean of Woodbury University's school of business and management. Harrington's appointment to the position became effective this week. Harrington, a former lieutenant colonel with the Air Force, is replacing the former business dean Richard King, who stepped down in May 2001 and serves on Woodbury's board of trustees. Harrington served as a professor of decision sciences, director of college accreditation and coordinator of college undergraduate programs during his tenures at the University of South Florida and Florida Gulf Coast University before coming to Woodbury.

Maya Kukes HILLSIDE DISTRICT -- Woodbury University has a new dean of the School of Business and Management. Tom Harrington will oversee the accounting, business and management, e-commerce, fashion marketing, marketing and MBA programs. Harrington previously worked at the University of South Florida and Florida Gulf Coast University, where he was a professor of decision sciences, director of college accreditation and coordinator of college undergraduate programs.

Gary Moskowitz HILLSIDE DISTRICT -- Zelda Gilbert knows that her school could be doing a better job. With a hefty check coming in from the government this fall to help with academics and student services, Gilbert's hoping to help her students on to graduation. This October, Woodbury University of Burbank will receive a check from the U.S. Dept. of Education in the amount of $420,000, the first installment of a $2 million grant to be paid to the school over the next five years.

degree program Molly Shore Woodbury University has entered into an educational partnership with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department that allows both sworn officers and professional staff to earn a bachelor's degree in the school's organizational leadership program. In addition to the 16,000 employees of the sheriff's department, the program is open to the more than 90,000 people working for the county of Los Angeles. The new degree program emphasizes conflict resolution, communication, leadership, socio-economics and management.

Construction projects and fundraising efforts for a $27-million expansion at Woodbury University are expected to be completed in the next two months. Through a more than two-year campaign, staffers in the university’s advancement office have raised roughly $26 million for the construction of two new buildings on campus. In August 2006, construction began on new school of architecture and school of business buildings as well as a 350-space parking lot on the campus’ upper level.

Maya Kukes BURBANK -- A decorated veteran of three wars and best selling author will speak Sunday at Woodbury University. Col. David Hackworth will discuss his career and receive an honorary degree. Hackworth spent almost 26 years in the Army and more than seven years in combat. The recipient of eight Purple Hearts, Hackworth is a syndicated columnist whose books include "Hazardous Duty," "The Price of Honor," and "About Face: The Odyssey of an American Warrior."

University to honor OC philanthropist Woodbury University will host a reception in honor of Orange County philanthropist and businessman Henry Segerstrom on Sunday. Segerstrom will receive the annual Julius Shulman Award. The award honors those who understand the essentials of objective and qualitative communication. Segerstrom is the founding chairman of the Orange County Performing Arts Center. He has contributed to his community through gifts of land and funds, as well as commissions of architecture and environmental sculpture.

Karen S. Kim HILLSIDE DISTRICT -- Thursday is judgment day for Woodbury University's student designers. Fashion experts will judge more than 200 of the students's 1940s-era fashion designs but only 100 entries will be chosen for Woodbury University's fashion show May 4. The competition also kicks off the university's fashion week, and the public is invited to attend. The week's events include: Monday -- Dress for Success and Casual Fridays, a workshop on fashion for the professional world featuring clothes from Macy's department store, will be held at noon in the quad.

Woodbury University is extending its reach east, helping to launch a customized MBA program in Beijing that is designed to prepare automobile industry executives for a global economy. The Carl Benz Academy has launched a three-year pilot program in collaboration with Mercedes-Benz China and the Burbank campus, as well as Peking University in China and Free University of Berlin. In an email from the kick-off earlier this week in Beijing, Andre van Niekerk, dean of Woodbury University's business school, said the program facilitates collaboration among faculties of different cultures while allowing them “to produce scholarly work that will enhance their own careers and bring recognition to the school of business.” The first Carl Benz Academy class includes 35 students hand-picked from the employee ranks of Mercedes-Benz China who will follow a customized curriculum that includes traditional classroom learning and distance education.

On a hot afternoon last week, I and several others from the current Leadership Burbank class sat down for a cup of coffee with Mike Nolan, a fixture within the Burbank community and a frequent speaker at City Council meetings. I didn't know what to expect. Nolan never hesitates to speak his mind, and his manner can be gruff. During the Memorial Day ceremony at Larry L. Maxam Park this year, he said I had been dismissive of his concerns about the state's water supply. He then walked away without another word, leaving me confused and annoyed.

HILLSIDE ? Researchers at Woodbury University are gearing up to host a series of public workshops to help homeowners, businesses and developers make educated choices about their energy and water consumption. The Smart Design Strategies for Managing Water + Energy in a Changing Climate series, hosted by the Arid Lands Institute at Woodbury University, begins at 9 a.m. Saturday in the Ahmanson Main Space. Organizers planned to stress local management of rainwater, storm-water runoff and reclaimed wastewater as being crucial to sustaining Western cities, particularly in the face of climate change, said Hadley Arnold, instructor and co-director of the program.

SINGERS ENTERTAIN OVER THE HOLIDAYS The Van Bloem Singers kept busy entertaining organizations in Burbank and Glendale over the holidays. They performed at the Holiday Inn, Media Center, during the city of Burbank?s 12 Days of Christmas. The singers entertained at nine other venues during December, including the Burbank Coordinating Council, the Joslyn Adult Center, the Burbank Retired City Employees, The Franciscans of St. Francis Xavier and other venues. These performers are completing their 14th season and have performed more than 350 shows for service clubs, retiree groups, volunteer organizations, charitable organizations and senior residences.

DOWNTOWN — The number of people who killed themselves in Burbank this year has more than doubled compared with last year, leaving experts to speculate whether the economic slowdown has played a role. Thirteen people committed suicide since January, compared with six in 2008, according to records released by the Burbank Police Department. Calls for help from victims, family and friends have also increased, Burbank Police Sgt. Robert Quesada said. The calls for help come as a new federal government study showed more than 8 million Americans seriously consider suicide each year.

DOWNTOWN — The number of people who claimed their own lives in Burbank this year has more than doubled compared to last year, leaving experts to speculate if the economic slowdown has played a role. Thirteen people committed suicide since January, compared with six in 2008, according to records released by the Burbank Police Department. Anecdotally, calls for help from victims, family and friends have also increased , Burbank Police Sgt. Robert Quesada said. The calls for help come as a new federal government study showed more than 8 million Americans seriously consider suicide each year.

Woodbury University student Joseph James has his eye on the sky, and he won’t settle for less. James is one of 100 people out of 2,000 who passed an audition to appear on the “Hellbent for Hollywood” reality show, currently in production. The show will combine the excitement of “American Idol” with the competitive challenges of “Survivor,” said Jen Markewych, casting director and producer along with John Mitchell. The competition won’t be exclusively on acting skills, she said.

On the eve of her retirement, Sue Georgino strolled a hallway of the Community Services Building, pointing to photographs of volunteers, smiling families and newly minted residential and business developments. In one, city officials unveil a housing project. In another, children play. “I have said over and over again how lucky we are that our mission statement is two words and it’s the name of our department: Community Development,” she said. “That has given us the opportunity to create such value for this community and this city.

TODAY Kiwanis International, the Burbank Noon Club , meets every Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. at the YMCA in Burbank. For more information, call (818) 954-9294. ? The Toluca Lake Leads Club meets every Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. at Toluca Lake Tennis Club, 6711 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles. For more information, call Jon Molin at (818) 763-5162, Ext. 134. ? TUESDAY The Burbank Noon Rotary Club meets at noon every Tuesday at the Burbank YMCA, 321 E. Magnolia Blvd.