Washington — The United States Mint is pleased to announce that Secretary of the Treasury John Snow has appointed Connie Harriman to chair the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) until October 1, 2004. Ms. Harriman succeeds Ute Wartenberg, the CCAC’s first Chairperson.
“With more than 20 years of public policy and management experience, Connie Harriman is ideally suited to lead the CCAC,” said United States Mint Director Henrietta Holsman Fore. “Under the leadership of Ute Wartenberg, the CCAC has done an incredible amount of work in the short time it has existed, from reviewing new designs for the 2004–dated commemorative quarter–dollar coins to leading the charge for America’s coin renaissance with new designs for the nickel. There is still much work to do, and I have confidence that Connie will continue the tradition of excellence that Ute began.”
Ms. Harriman is the President of the South Africa Wildlife Trust, and has helped formulate policy in executive positions at the U.S. Export–Import Bank and the U.S. Department of Justice. She was appointed Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior for Fish and Wildlife and Parks by former President George H.W. Bush. She has worked extensively with Congress, Federal agencies, the media and special interest groups. A Phi Beta Kappa, Ms. Harriman holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Stanford University, and a juris doctorate from the University of California at Los Angeles. Ms. Harriman is a native Californian.
Secretary Snow has also appointed Dr. Mitchell Sanders to the CCAC to represent the interests of the general public. Dr. Sanders is a political science professor at Notre Dame University and a lifelong numismatist. Dr. Sanders holds a bachelor’s degree from Duke University, and a doctorate in political science from the University of Rochester.
“The CCAC is only as strong as its diversity of expertise,” said Director Fore. “With such a wide–ranging background — from political history to numismatics — Dr. Sanders is a wonderful addition to this body.”
With Dr. Sanders’ addition, only three positions remain vacant on the CCAC — two specially qualified individuals, one each in the fields of American history and Numismatics, and one member who will represent the general public.
Created by Congress in 2003, the CCAC advises the Secretary of the Treasury on any theme or design proposals relating to circulating coinage, bullion coinage, Congressional gold medals, and national and other medals produced by the United States Mint. The Congressional leadership and the Director of the United States Mint recommend candidates for the CCAC to the Secretary of the Treasury, who appoints members and exercises direction and authority over the body.