ROCKDALE COUNTY PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Jan. 16, 2025
Harvard Fellows Aid in The Transition of Rockdale County’s New Chair
ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. – Two students from the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) Taubman Center for State and Local Government’s Transition Term Program have worked closely with Chairwoman JaNice Van Ness and county leadership to help with the transition process for the new Board of Commissioners (BOC) Administration.
Transition Term is a nonpartisan program that matches newly elected leaders with students who assist them for two weeks during the January term. Fellows Shanequa Moore and Willie Powell, both working to obtain their master’s degrees in public administration, have been assisting Chair Van Ness since Jan. 2, 2025.
“Chairwoman Van Ness is very authentic and cares a lot about the citizens. I’ve enjoyed hearing about everything she wants to get done and what we’ve heard from the directors,” Shenequa Moore stated of the experience. “Rockdale is unique, and I understand why people love the county.”
“The people have been very welcoming while we have been here,” Willie Powell stated. “It has been interesting learning about Rockdale County and all the exciting progress that the new board wishes to pursue.”
During their time with Rockdale County, they have met with several departments and officials to observe trends, evaluate processes and collect information to provide suggestions to Chairwoman Van Ness that support the departments and the direction of the new board. In addition, they give an outsider perspective to adapt ideas for the transition. Upon completion of their term, they will provide the board with a final report.
Previously a participant of the program and Harvard Alum, Tax Commissioner Tisa Smart-Washington shared the idea about the program with Chairwoman Van Ness and assisted with the opportunity for Moore and Powell to participate in Rockdale County.
“We appreciate the feedback and what we are going to be able to learn from them in the time they have spent in Rockdale County, said Chairwoman Van Ness. “We are very grateful for the program Harvard has and grateful for what the students add to our transition as we move into 2025.”
The term for Moore and Powell will end on Jan. 17.
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