Patrick Terrien
President & CEO
(614) 229-4599 Extension: 404
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Mr. Terrien manages all aspects of operations and strategy for the organization including fundraising, community partnerships, staffing, and strategic planning. He is a member of the Ohio Department of Education’s International Education Advisory Committee as well as the Center for U.S. Global Engagement Advisory Committee. Mr. Terrien delivers a variety of lectures to national and local organizations on topics ranging from non-profit management to globalization and corporate social responsibility and the influence of globalization. With a degree in International Politics from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, Mr. Terrien worked in Washington, D.C. for the US Agency for International Development facilitating U.S. environmental exports to Asia. During his three years at USAID, Patrick traveled to Indonesia, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, and Hong Kong. Prior to becoming President & CEO, Mr. Terrien was the Director for Corporate Relations at COSI Columbus where he directed the science museum’s corporate fundraising program. Mr. Terrien is proficient in conversational Indonesian and French, and has studied Spanish and American Sign Language.
Stephanie Calondis Geiger
Director of K-12 Education & Media Outreach
(614) 229-4599 Extension: 403
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Since 2004, Ms. Calondis Geiger has directed all aspects of the Council’s youth education programs including design, implementation, evaluation, and marketing. These programs address competencies in two primary areas: topic/issue analysis and intercultural relationship development; they operate primarily within a framework of project-based learning. Prior to joining the staff, she lived with a host family in a rural area of Costa Rica where she taught English and global issues to first through six graders and initiated development projects in her community. As a result, she is a proficient Spanish speaker. Ms. Calondis earned a degree in journalism from Ohio Wesleyan University and worked as a newspaper reporter covering education and other community issues. She also managed a variety of programs for University Settlement, a non-profit community organization in Cleveland. These included afterschool enrichment programs, workforce development, family literacy, Internet courses for senior citizens, and an intervention program for pre-adjudicated youth. She has been instrumental in making the youth programs arm of CCWA an institutional priority. Ms. Calondis co-chairs the Education Advisory Committee, in partnership with OSU’s Office of International Affairs. She also serves on the Green Committee at Jefferson Center for Learning and the Arts.
Shannon McAfee
Director of Public Programs
(614) 229-4599 Extension: 402
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Ms. McAfee is responsible for planning, marketing, and implementing the CCWA’s public programs, including the Signature Luncheon series, Feature Focus Webcasts, and Great Decisions discussion groups. She is a graduate of Washington State University and The Ohio State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and master’s degree in Slavic and East European Studies. She has lived, traveled, and studied abroad in the Philippines, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. In 2010, Ms. McAfee interned at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia. She was working in the environment and health section when the Moscow smoke crisis erupted. Ms. McAfee has studied Spanish, Russian, and Uzbek.
Rhonda Nicholas
Administrative & Membership Coordinator
(614) 229-4599 Extension: 401
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Ms. Nicholas manages all aspects of the Council’s administrative operations encompassing multiple office and financial management duties. Additionally, she coordinates all membership services, engaging in outreach to potential Council patrons and communicating with current individual members. Ms. Nicholas works closely with Council staff to support the various program priorities, including board and community engagement, and event logistics. Her extensive experience in nonprofit administration includes over ten years in membership and events planning. Additionally, Ms. Nicholas has over 25 years of corporate and nonprofit marketing and administration.
Doug Matthews
Director of GlobalColumbus
(614) 398-8868
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Mr. Matthews leads the GlobalColumbus initiative, a collaborative effort by many community organizations and spearheaded by the Columbus Council on World Affairs to position Greater Columbus to thrive in a global society. In his most recent position as the President and Global Operating Officer for Right Management, Mr. Matthews held full leadership responsibility for the profit/loss results of the $500M firm which operates in 300+ cities around the world. His responsibilities included sales, marketing, finance, product management, technology, and all regional operations. Prior to assuming the presidency of Right, Mr. Matthews led the corporate marketing, information technology, and product management functions. Previously, he held the position of Executive Vice President for the Americas at Right Management. Mr. Matthews has served as a board member for the Columbus Council on World Affairs, the Employers’ Resource Association, and Right Management. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Stony Brook University in New York and has continued graduate studies at Xavier University. Mr. Matthews currently teaches International Business at Capital University.
Bobbie Mucha
K-12 Education Consultant
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Ms. Mucha has assisted with the planning and implementation of CCWA Summer Culture Camps since 2008 and is a member of the CCWA Educational Advisory Committee. She worked for 37 years as a social studies teacher and served as a department chair for 12 years. She holds a master’s degree in Social Studies Education from The Ohio State University. Ms. Mucha has been the recipient of fifteen international fellowships such as a Fulbright, Keishi Koho, and Armonk. Serving on the Ohio Department of Education Social Studies Content Advisory Committee, as a draft writer for the Strategic Plan for International Education in Ohio, and on the Ohio Department of Education Social Studies Range-finding Committee for the Ohio Graduation Test, Ms. Mucha impacted education in Ohio. In 2005, the Columbus Council on World Affairs selected Ms. Mucha as the International Educator of the Year.
Donna Nesbitt
K-12 Education Consultant
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Ms. Nesbitt is coordinating the work of the International Education Network of Central Ohio, a partnership among the Columbus Council on World Affairs, the Educational Service Center of Central Ohio, and Central Ohio school districts. She also serves as the Ohio Coordinator for the Asia Society’s International Studies Schools Network. Ms. Nesbitt has extensive experience as a classroom teacher and administrator at the Ohio Department of Education in the areas of curriculum, instruction, assessment, and international education.
Don Slobodien
Grant Writing Consultant
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Mr. Slobodien works with the Council’s staff to prepare and submit grants for new and existing programs. He earned the Grant Professional Certified designation from the Grant Professionals Certification Institute in 2010 and helped create the Central Ohio Chapter of the Grant Professionals Association. A veteran of the nonprofit industry, Mr. Slobodien raised funds for University Hospitals (OSU) and the Grant Medical Center Foundation prior to serving as Executive Director of the National Kidney Foundation’s Ohio affiliate. He created Benbrook Associates in September 2001 and began teaching in Franklin University’s graduate programs in 2002. Mr. Slobodien earned undergraduate degrees from Ohio Wesleyan University and DeVry University and a graduate degree from The Ohio State University.
- Ronald Reagan,
Former United States President