Dr. Bill Dingus gets to wear yet another hat.

Dingus, the executive director of the Greater Lawrence County Area Chamber of Commerce and the Lawrence Economic Development Corporation, has been named to the newly created Partnership for Continued Learning.

The 11-member panel was created to find ways to strengthen education and prepare children to be competitive in workforce in a global economy, according to a prepared statement from Gov. Bob Taft's office.

The Partnership for Continued Learning is meant to focus on all aspects education from early childhood through workforce preparation, Dingus said.

"I truly believe this is of real importance. The state needs to step forward with a plan where all of its citizens can be educated and the workforce can be upgraded," Dingus said. "My vision is that we as a group can come up with a plan where the resources of the state are committed to education is such a way to create more opportunities for everyone."

Dingus is the only representative from southern Ohio to be included on the panel. Those 11 members are expected to work closely with existing agencies and education providers to create solutions needed to improve the state's educational system.

Prior to being named to head the LEDC and chamber of commerce, Dingus was the dean of Ohio University Southern.

Gov. Taft called for the creation of the panel in his state of the state address earlier this year. The state legislature gave its approval shortly thereafter. The panel will meet for the first time today in Columbus.