Prior to his retirement in 2007, Jerry served seven years as an Associate Provost for International Affairs at The Ohio State University. As a professor in the Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics, he previously served as director of the Latin American Studies Program and as the Director of the Ohio Leadership, Educational and Development Program. In addition, he coordinated the OSU College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences’ program in Mexico and was the founding resident director of the OSU study abroad program held at the Mexican Postgraduate College of Agricultural Sciences. Jerry has lived in Mexico twice where he was an assistant program officer with the Ford Foundation and was a visiting professor at the Postgraduate College. He also spent five years in the Dominican Republic as chief of party of the OSU Agribusiness Partnership Project at the Instituto Superior de Agricultura. He led major projects in Bolivia and El Salvador, was a Fulbright Scholar in Ecuador, and a visiting scholar at the Food Research Institute of Stanford University. During his academic career, his research has focused on economic and agricultural development with a special emphasis on rural finance in Latin America, especially in Mexico, Bolivia, and Central America.

How did you get involved with CCWA?
When I was a visiting professor at OSU in 1979 I was asked to be the speaker at a luncheon on “Changing Mexico.” When I returned to Columbus, I started attending the luncheons and was eventually asked to be a Board Member.

How long have you been a member of CCWA?
I became a member in 1995 and became a Board Member in 2000, serving until 2015. Over the years, I have seen an evolution of exciting programs with CCWA like the Global Scholars Diploma and Global Fluency Training programs. Now, I am a regular attendee of CCWA’s luncheons.

Why do you think these luncheons are important to the community?
I feel very strongly about the importance of all CCWA’s activities and the many components of its programs, each of which serves a targeted audience. In the case of the luncheons, the Council reaches out to both its members and the community at large, encouraging them to be more informed and thoughtful about important international topics and global issues.

Why should our future members join CCWA?
Globalization is part of our world and we need well-informed citizenry on global matters.

What is your favorite memory of the Council?
Working on the development of the strategic plan for CCWA because it provided the most impact. I have always approached the Council with what it can do for the community, through the development of meaningful programs, rather than what it can do for me.
 
To become a member of CCWA and to support our mission please contact Bushra Sandhu, Relationship Manager.