MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT:

"Access to High Quality Education: Key to Detroit's Future," featuring Dan Varner, chief executive officer at Excellent Schools Detroit.

WHEN:

Noon-1 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2014

WHERE:

Wayne State University Alumni House, 441 Gilmour Mall, Detroit, Mich

MORE INFO:

Dan Varner is the Chief Executive Officer at Excellent Schools Detroit, a coalition of philanthropy, educators, civic organizations and community-based organizations working to ensure that every Detroit student, cradle to career, receives an excellent education by 2020. They define an excellent education as one that assures the on-time high school graduation rate of 90 percent of its students, 90 percent of whom enroll in college of quality postsecondary training program

Prior to joining Excellent Schools Detroit, Varner worked as a program officer at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation on both the Michigan and Education & Learning teams. He is also the cofounder and former CEO of Think Detroit, which he led through a merger with Detroit PAL. He serves on numerous boards of directors, including the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Connect Ed, Detroit PAL, and the ACLU of Michigan, and is also a current member of the Michigan State Board of Education.

The lecture, sponsored by the Wayne State University Alumni Association and, in part, DTE Energy Foundation, is free; however, space is limited. Reservations are required. Visit alumni.wayne.edu/events or call 313-577-2300 to make a reservation.

Parking is available in structures 1 and 5 for $6.50 (credit card or OneCard only; see map at maps.wayne.edu).

Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution offering more than 370 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 28,000 students.