Adam Pertman Named to Head Donaldson Adoption Institute
Adam Pertman Named Executive Director of the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute Note: It is a pleasure to bring you the announcement of Adam Pertman's appointment as Executive Director of the prestigious Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute. Two years ago, we were delighted to welcome him to our Guest Author Chat, and have closely followed his advocacy efforts, culminating in this announcement.FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEProminent Author/Educator Takes the Helm at Adoption InstituteThe Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute is proud to announce that Adam Pertman - an award-winning expert on adoption and family issues, as well as a Pulitzer-nominated journalist - will become its new executive director on Dec. 1.
Pertman is the author of "Adoption Nation: How the Adoption Revolution is Transforming America" (Basic Books) one of the most important and influential books ever written in the field. He also founded the Adoption Nation Education Initiative, which will be integrated into the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute as a new and innovative division devoted exclusively to educational activities.
"We are thrilled that Adam is joining us," said Sandra Kresch, who is president of the Institute board of directors.
"His extensive knowledge about adoption issues, combined with his writing, research and speaking skills, have already made him a strong, articulate leader in the adoption world," added Kresch. "We feel confident that he's the right person, at the right time, to take an already-respected national organization to even greater heights. We feel lucky to have him."
Georgia Deoudes, our outstanding Director of Policy, will be promoted to the new position of Deputy Director when Pertman assumes his duties. Deoudes will work closely with Pertman to lead policy initiatives, oversee ongoing projects, develop new programs, and build a more results-oriented organization.
"The Adoption Institute has done such important work, and plays such a vital role in the field, that I'm more than just honored - I'm a bit intimidated," said Pertman. "I'll work very hard to retain and enhance the Institute's deserved reputation, and I'm delighted that we share the same goals from the start: to educate Americans so they understand that adoption is part of all our lives and is having a dramatic impact on our country, to erase the negative stereotypes and stigmas that have undermined too many people touched by adoption and, most important, to help children who need permanent, loving homes."
The Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute is the foremost adoption policy think tank in the United States. For more information about Pertman's appointment as executive director or about the Institute itself, please contact Sandra Kresch at 917-445-8960 or
sandra.kresch@psdinternational.com, or Adam Pertman at 617-332-8944 or
adam@adoptionnation.org.
BIOGRAPHYAdam Pertman was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for his writing about adoption in
The Boston Globe, where he was a senior reporter and editor for 22 years before turning his career toward adoption. His book, "Adoption Nation" (Basic Books) was named Book of the Year by the National Adoption Foundation, and has been reviewed as "the most important book ever written on the subject."
Pertman's other honors include: the Angel in Adoption Award from the U.S. Congress; the Special Friend of Children Award from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists; the Friend of Adoption Award from the ODS Adoption Community of New England; the Dave Thomas Center for Adoption Law's first award for "the nation's greatest contributor to public understanding about adoption and permanency placement issues"; the American Adoption Congress' first award to the journalist who has done most to inform our nation about adoption and "for his eloquent witnessing of contemporary adoption"; the Year 2000 Journalism Award from Holt International Children's Services; and the Century Foundation's prestigious Leonard Silk Journalism Award.
Pertman's commentaries have appeared in the
Los Angeles Times,
Boston Globe,
Baltimore Sun,
Miami Herald and on National Public Radio, among others. Articles about him and about "Adoption Nation" have appeared in numerous newspapers and magazines nationwide, including "
People." He has been a guest on many radio and television programs, including Oprah and the Today Show.
As a leading expert on adoption and family issues, Pertman is often quoted in electronic and print media outlets. He has delivered scores of keynote speeches and other presentations for organizations including the Child Welfare League of America, the American Adoption Congress, the National Academy of Sciences, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Joint Council on International Children's Services, and the National Association of Child Advocates.
Before embarking on his current career, Pertman, 49, was a journalist with
The Boston Globe for more than two decades. His jobs included foreign editor, Washington news editor, West Coast bureau chief, diplomatic correspondent, national political correspondent, family and children's issues reporter, and restaurant reviewer. His assignments included the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Philippine revolution, the Gulf War, the Clinton impeachment, the Middle East peace process, the O.J. Simpson trials, and several presidential elections.
Pertman is a member of the
Council on Contemporary Families and of the editorial advisory board of
Adoptive Families magazine. The website for his book is
www.adoptionnation.com. He and his wife, Judy Baumwoll, live in Massachusetts with their two children (both adopted): Zachary, 8 and Emilia, 5.
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