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United States of America

U.S Center for Citizen Diplomacy & President AOS International
Ann Olsen Schodde - Founder, President Emeritus and Senior Advisor
http://centerforcitizendiplomacy.org/                               

Ann Olsen Schodde has held leadership positions in higher education and international non-profit organizations for over 35 years  during which she has consulted or managed educational and international  programs for more than 21 private foundations, professional associations and government agencies, including the Stanley Foundation, World Food Prize Foundation, National Council for International Visitors, Carnegie Council on Ethics and International Affairs, World Affairs Councils , Sister Cities, USAID, U.S. Departments of State and Education,  and the U.S. Ukraine Foundation. Her work has involved managing and directing educational exchange and technical assistance programs  in Tunisia, Ukraine, Malaysia, the Peoples Republic of China, Russia, France, the Middle East, Japan and Mexico.

Schodde has served on numerous boards and commissions including the National Continuing Education Association,  Association of American Community Colleges, the   Coalition for Citizen Diplomacy, the National Council for International Visitors, now Global Ties and has Chaired the Greater DM Sister Cities Commission. She has testified before Congress on behalf of continuing education and citizen diplomacy, worked with embassy staff from over 60 countries, and garnered financial support from the U.S. government and the private sector for citizen based international programs including the Johnson Foundation, Coca Cola Foundation, American Express, Gallup, and VISA.  In 2007 Schodde founded the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy and currently serves as President Emeritus and Senior Advisor for the Center which is a separate division of Pyxera Global, Washington, D.C. Her most recent article on citizen diplomacy occurred in the 2012 winter issue of the USC Public Diplomacy Journal.    Currently as President of AOS International, she is a frequent  speaker and consultant for non-profit international organizations in the United States and throughout the world.  Concurrently she serves on the boards of CultureAll, TaiInitiative, AEP Project and Hopeful Africa.   Schodde holds a B.A. degree from the University of Wisconsin and M.Ed. from Cornell University.  She resides in Des Moines, Iowa, is married to Dr. Stephen Schodde, J.D. and has three grown children.  

United States of America

Unity in Diversity Peace Garden
Kiran Thawardas - Project Manager
https://www.facebook.com/UnityInDiversityPeaceGardenAtScarrittBennettCenter

Kiran began to work on the project at age 14, bringing the peace garden project to America, eventually creating the first inaugurated Unity in Diversity Peace Garden in the world at age 17. Thawardas has a great passion in the Unity in Diversity project and its mission with the hope of encouraging intercultural dialogue and understanding around the world and in his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee. Volunteerism plays a great role in his life, being the service coordinator of his school’s National Honor Society and a chair member of his school’s Service Club. Graduating high school in May of 2015, he plans on pursuing a degree and career in engineering.