Global IE was incorporated in 1990 by a group of friends whose business and vacation travel had opened their eyes to the richness of the cultures in many countries throughout the world.
"Understanding happens when individuals have an opportunity to develop relationships," says former Global IE President and co-founder, Richard E. Guffey. "It also happens as we learn from one another, and education is one of the best ways to do just that."
Global IE is a decentralized, nonprofit organization. It is primarily staffed by U.S. and Canadian volunteers and it is funded by tax-deductible donations. The 10-member Board of Directors meets annually to review previous year's projects and approve projects for the upcoming year.Many of Global IE's directors and officers travel extensively and hold other full-time jobs. A team of advisors include doctoral level graduates, faculty of prominent universities in the USA, international consultants and business owners.
Since the first foreign office was established in Istanbul, Turkey, Global IE has participated in activities and projects within such countries as Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Yemen, Morocco, Tunisia, and Nepal. When the Central Asian countries became independent republics, Global IE was invited to facilitate and assist with education projects in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan. Global IE continues to support projects in several of these countries.
More recent projects undertaken by Global IE include providing visiting professors and professionals from the United States of America (USA) to lecture in Yemenis' and Chinese Universities, educator grants in Nepal, tsunami relief work in Thailand, and educational and humanitarian support to projects in India and Myanmar.
President/Director
Lafayette, Indiana
President of Global IE effective January 1, 2011. Previously served as Chairman of the Global IE Board of Directors and as a Director. Professor of Agronomy at Purdue University. 21 years in university teaching and research. Over 150 published research articles and reports.
Ph.D. in Forest Meteorology from State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry; M.F.S. in Forest Ecology from Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, and B.S. in Botany from Duke University.
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
2010 marked the 20th year anniversary since Global Involvement through Education (Global IE) was registered as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. We are not a large mega-organization. We do small education-related projects, one at a time, often coming about because a need was made known to one of our directors during his/her travels or through a personal contact. We believe that any one person can make a positive difference in our world. And when collective financial partnerships join forces to promote education, much can be accomplished.
On January 1, 2011, I took the helm of the organization as its newly elected President, following the many untiring hours of personal commitment and effort of co-founder and former president, Dick Guffey. Dick will continue to serve on the Board of Directors. We are committed to moving forward with his vision of making a difference in our world through education-related projects that can be transformational to so many people.
Please consider partnering with us by your financial giving. Check our list of current projects under "How You Can Help" to determine if there is a certain country or project you might feel compelled to help support through a donation gift. All donations are tax deductible.
President Richard Grant, Ph.D.
September 2, 1945 to August 15, 2010
Global Involvement through Education would like to honor the memory of Gary Kiepke for his many years of volunteer service on the Board of Directors. Gary also served as Global IE's Corporate Secretary.