Ohio
Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Foundation Awards Capital University
Law School Grant to Operate Ohio's First Tobacco Public Policy Center
- Micah Berman Named Executive Director
News Release
March 3, 2005
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Thursday, March 3, 2005) — The Ohio
Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Foundation (TUPCF) today announced
Capital University Law School as the recipient of a four-year, $1.2 million
grant to develop and implement Ohio’s first and only tobacco policy
resource center.
The Tobacco Public Policy Center at Capital University Law School will
serve as a legal resource center for the Ohio tobacco control community
and will conduct policy research directed towards reducing tobacco use,
protecting the public from secondhand smoke, and preventing teenage smoking.
Through the use of the Law School’s faculty, staff and student
resources, the Tobacco Public Policy Center will assist government entities
and the Ohio tobacco control community by developing and distributing
“best practices” information. In addition, the center will
educate public health organizations, community groups and legislators
on legal policy matters that will impact tobacco use, advertising and
regulation.
Ohio will be the eighth state with a tobacco policy center, and the center
will actively participate in a national information-sharing collaborative
aimed at impacting outcomes in the legislative, judicial and administrative
arenas.
“We are eager and prepared to serve the public through the operation
of the policy center,” said Jack Guttenberg, dean of the Columbus-based
law school. “Through the combined skills and resources of the faculty,
staff and students at Capital, we will more than satisfy all of TUPCF’s
goals with the establishment of the center.”
Also announced today is the appointment of the center’s new executive
director, Micah L. Berman. Responsible for the day-to-day operations of
the center, Berman began his role Feb. 14. He previously worked as a trial
attorney with the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice
and as an associate with the law firm of Stinson Morrison Hecker, LLP.
Berman brings strengths in researching and investigating legal issues,
as well as in collaborating with elected officials and policy makers.
Berman earned his Juris Doctor with distinction from Stanford Law School
and graduated with honors from Brandeis University with a Bachelor of
Arts Degree in public policy. Previously, Berman served as political director
for the Fingerhut for U.S. Senate campaign.
Capital University Law School Professor Shirley Mays will serve as the
faculty liaison to the center.
“We are very excited to have Micah on board,” said Mike Renner,
TUPCF executive director. “He brings years of legal experience to
the table and will be a huge asset to the Center.”
“Presenting this grant award to Capital means a great deal to the
Ohio tobacco control community,” added Renner. “Putting the
center into action will help address critical legal issues surrounding
tobacco control in Ohio. We couldn’t be more thrilled.”
About the Ohio Tobacco Use and Prevention Control Foundation
(TUPCF)
The Ohio Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Foundation was created by
the Ohio General Assembly in 2000 and is funded with monies secured from
the national Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) between tobacco companies
and 46 states. TUPCF is charged with reducing tobacco use among Ohioans,
with an emphasis on youth, minority and regional populations, pregnant
women and others who may be disproportionately affected by the use of
tobacco. Following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Best Practices, TUPCF programs range from the distribution of community
grants and special focus initiatives to Ohio’s tobacco use counter-marketing
campaign, stand, and the free Ohio Tobacco Quit Line
(1-800-QUIT-NOW). For more information on TUPCF and its programs, go to
standohio.org.
About Capital University Law School
Capital University Law School, founded in 1903, offers three degree programs
– a Juris Doctor, LL.M. and a Masters in Taxation. The Law School
houses national centers and institutes, including The National Center
for Adoption Law & Policy and the Center for Dispute Resolution. In
addition to enrolling nearly 1,000 students, Capital Law School also serves
the legal profession and business professionals through certificate programs
(paralegal, legal nurse consultant and life care planner) and a variety
of scholarly symposia and conferences. The Law School is part of Capital
University, the oldest and largest independent college in Central Ohio
and the largest university affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church
of America. Founded in 1830 and incorporated in 1850, Capital University
prepares students for Lifelong Learning through six colleges: College
of Arts and Sciences; School of Education, Professional Studies and Social
Work; School of Nursing; Conservatory of Music; School of Management and
Law School. In addition, there are Centers for Lifelong Learning in Cleveland,
Dayton and Columbus.
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For more information:
Contact: Beth Schieber
Director of communications, TUPCF
(614)728-2887
Contact: Nichole Johnson
Assistant director of media relations, Capital University
(614) 236-6945
Contact: Micah Berman
Executive Director, Tobacco Public Policy Center at Capital University
Law School
(614) 236-7314
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