Alum receives prestigious McGovern Award
FOR RELEASE: Sunday, February 20, 2005
Huntington, Ind. "Huntington College alumnus Charles G. Curie recently received the 2005 McGovern Award for Leadership in Drug Abuse Prevention at the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America National Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C., on January 10. McGovern Award recipients are honored for their impact on drug abuse policy. Curie, Huntington College's 1996 Alumnus of the Year, received the prestigious accolade for his use of innovative ideas to reduce illegal drug use. Curie serves as Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2001, Curie leads the agency in improving the accountability, capacity and effectiveness of the Nation's substance abuse prevention, addictions treatment and mental health services.
According to SAMHSA, it is Curie's core commitment to ensuring that people with addictive and mental disorders have the opportunity for full participation in American society, that has earned him national recognition. SAMSHA also cites Curie as having provided outstanding and effective leadership in dealing with mental illness, alcoholism, and drug abuse by creating new linkages among programs dealing with these serious human problems at the national, state and local levels.
Curie has over 25 years of professional experience in mental health and the substance abuse services field. Prior to his appointment as SAMHSA Administrator, Curie served as Deputy Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services for the Department of Public Welfare in Pennsylvania. A graduate of Huntington College, he also holds a master's degree in social service administration from the University of Chicago and is certified by the Academy of Certified Social Workers. Curie served as the keynote speaker for the Huntington College Foundation Annual Dinner in 2003.
The Council for Christian Colleges and Universities honored Curie during Christian Higher Education Month in 2003.
