COLLEGE PARK, Md.—Fred Grandy, former president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International, Inc., and star of the long-running television series, "The Love Boat," will be joining the University of Maryland School of Public Affairs this spring, the University announced today. Grandy will serve as a Visiting Professor, teaching a course on leadership of nonprofit organizations. He will also serve as a Senior Fellow in the School's new Center for Public Policy and Private Enterprise, joining a team of esteemed scholars.

"The nonprofit world is going through a period of profound change as it forges new relationships with both the public and private sector," Grandy said. "My hope is that students taking this course will discover some new opportunities for public leadership."

Grandy, tapped by Goodwill in 1995, has raised public awareness of Goodwill's many programs and services contributing to its newly recognized leadership status among nonprofits. Goodwill Industries and its international component, Goodwill Global, Inc., make up the world's largest network of privately operated vocational rehabilitation and employment organizations. There are currently 182 community-based Goodwill Industries agencies in the United States and Canada with a net worth of $1.4 billion. Goodwill Global encompasses 45 associate member organizations in 34 countries outside of North America.

Before joining Goodwill, Grandy served four terms as a member of Congress, representing northwest Iowa and his home town of Sioux City, distinguishing himself as a well-respected and independent thinker of the Ways and Means Committee. Grandy stepped down from his House seat to pursue the Iowa Republican gubernatorial nomination in 1994, which he lost by a narrow margin to then-Governor Terry Branstad.

Prior to his political career, Grandy was a professional actor and screen writer, best known for the role of "Gopher" on the original "Love Boat" series. He still acts on occasion and was seen most recently in the Arena Stage production of the Miracle Worker.

Grandy graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1970 with a B.A. in English.

The Maryland School of Public Affairs is a graduate school of public policy and management that is nationally recognized for its excellent faculty, innovative curriculum, and leadership in the education of public policy professionals.