The Tennessee World Affairs Council

is proud to present

DR. HENRY TUGENDHAT

Henry Tugendhat is an Economist with the China team at the U.S. Institute of Peace. He focuses on issues related to China’s impact on conflict dynamics in Africa and Latin America.

Tugendhat has worked on these issues for over a decade through previous employment at the Institute of Development Studies in the U.K., the China-Africa Research Initiative at Johns Hopkins University SAIS, and the World Bank Group’s macroeconomics, trade and investment team. His core areas of interest include conflict, economics, telecommunications, and cybersecurity in the context of China-Africa and China-Latin America relations. Tugendhat lived and worked in China for three years and holds a master’s from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University.

TIM DOUGLAS

Tim Douglas Tim was born in Nashville, graduated from Montgomery Bell Academy, received his B.S. in Engineering Economics and a Master degree in Diplomacy, and International Commerce. He later received an Accounting Certificate from NYU’s Stern School of Business. Tim began his career in finance, working in New York City for Euro Brokers Harlow, and then Bankers Trust Company. He became a Principal at Nelson Capital Corporation, a diversified merchant banking firm, until he purchased and operated a company which fabricated parts for the automotive and appliance industries. After its sale, he served as an advisor to various companies, then transitioned to managing surgery centers and purchased a pain management business, partnering with rural hospitals. He later was hired by FirstBank as Nashville Market President. He now serves as Regional Director of Private Banking for FirstBank.

The Tennessee World Affairs Council presents:

Global Nashville with Karl Dean:

Conversation with 

Dr. Sarah Gardial

Dean, Belmont University Massey School of Business

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Click for Podcast or visit “Global Nashville” series wherever you get your Pods

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Sarah Fisher Gardial, PhD

Dean, Jack C. Massey College of Business

Sarah Fisher Gardial joined Belmont University in 2020 as the first woman Dean in the Massey College of Business. Prior to Belmont, she was Dean of the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business, and she held college and campus leadership positions at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, including Associate Dean of the Haslam College of Business and Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs. She has had leadership positions in national/international business school associations, including president of the MBA Roundtable, and conference chairs for the Graduate Management Admissions Council and the Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business.

Sarah has an extensive background in business and business education. For over 30 years, she has personally engaged with industry in research, consulting, and executive education roles, as well as creating mutually beneficial partnerships between higher education and industry. Her leadership awards include the Prometheus Leadership Medal (University of Tennessee Center for Educational Leadership), Leadership Knoxville, Women of Achievement in Entrepreneurship and Innovation (Iowa), the Iowa Women’s Foundation Tribute to Women and the Corridor Business Journal (Iowa) Woman of Influence.

Sarah has served on public and private for-profit and non-profit governing boards (United Fire Group, Learning Tree, GreenState Credit Union, United Way and the Tennessee Justice Center). In addition, she is an active public speaker for corporations, conferences, women’s leadership events, and industry associations. She is an outspoken advocate for women in leadership as well as organizational diversity and inclusion.

Sarah and her retired husband, Jeffrey, recently traded in their motorcycles for a pontoon boat and lake house where they enjoy time with friends, family and especially their two grandchildren.

About the Moderator:

Hon. Karl Dean

Karl Dean served as the sixth Mayor of Nashville and Davidson County.  He was elected in 2007 and re-elected in 2011.

Dean first held public office when he was elected as Nashville’s Public Defender in 1990.  He was re-elected in 1994 and 1998.  He served as Metro Law Director from 1999 to January 2007, when he resigned to run for the office of mayor.

Karl Dean has taught at Vanderbilt Law School, Belmont University and Boston University.

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Click for Podcast, or listen to “Global Tennessee” where you get your Pods

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Andy Moats

Executive Vice-President, Director of Music, Sports, & Entertainment Pinnacle Financial Partners

Andy Moats, 46, is a Nashville native whose background combines restaurants, music, racing, and creating a bank.

After graduating from Vanderbilt University (Economics, 1999) Andy took time to pursue his passion for music, touring and supporting a multi-platinum rock band during the year 2000. Having played in various bands from an early age, his days performing may be over but his passion for music has helped to grow one of the largest music and entertainment focused banks in the country.

In 2001, Andy began his banking career at Union Planters Bank then-turned Regions Bank, rising to the role of Commercial Real Estate Credit Manager with credit responsibility for all real estate loan activity in the Southeast.

While pursuing his career path in banking, Andy was also heavily involved in his family’s NASCAR business – Brewco Motorsports (#27, #37, #66) – and various family restaurant companies.

In 2006, Andy co-founded what would become Avenue Bank. While at Avenue, as a member of the Bank’s Executive Team Andy served the dual roles of Chief Credit Officer – managing all aspects of lending and credit – and Bank Group Director, which included leadership of Avenue’s retail branch network, business banking division, private banking division, and music & entertainment division.

In February of 2015, Andy and team embarked on their first public company ‘road show’ and successfully took Avenue Bank public on the Nasdaq Exchange (ticker symbol: AVNU).

In July of 2016, Avenue Bank merged with Nashville based Pinnacle Financial Partners to form one of the Top 50 largest Banks in the United States. Andy joined the leadership team of Pinnacle following the merger and currently serves in the role of Executive Vice President, Director of Music, Sports, & Entertainment. In this role, Andy develops and manages $2B in entertainment related accounts with clients including artists, songwriters, international label and publishing businesses, touring, athletes, and professional sports franchises, among others.

Outside of Banking, Andy is a founder and partner of the Music City Grand Prix, an IndyCar race televised in over 180 countries attracting over 100,000 fans each year. Other pursuits include film (Executive Producer – Murder at Yellowstone City) and early-stage company development and investment.

Andy’s community involvement and accolades include: Exchange Club Family Center, former Chairman of the Board; founding member of Nashville Emerging Leaders; Montgomery Bell Academy Alumni Board; M Street Entertainment Advisory Board; Leadership Music Class of 2014;  Nashville Film Festival Music Committee; The Tennessean’s “Next Up”; Nashville Business Journal’s “40 under 40”; Billboard Magazine’s 2020, 2021, and 2022 Nashville “Power Players”, Music Publishing “Dealmakers”, and 2022/2023 all-industry “Power 100” ranking the music industries 100 most powerful players; Tennessee Entertainment Commission Board (Governor Appointed); Pet Community Center Board; Nashville Entrepreneur Center Board.

Click for video

Click for Podcast, or listen to “Global Tennessee” where you get your Pods

Click for Transcript

Andy Moats

Executive Vice-President, Director of Music, Sports, & Entertainment Pinnacle Financial Partners

Andy Moats, 46, is a Nashville native whose background combines restaurants, music, racing, and creating a bank.

After graduating from Vanderbilt University (Economics, 1999) Andy took time to pursue his passion for music, touring and supporting a multi-platinum rock band during the year 2000. Having played in various bands from an early age, his days performing may be over but his passion for music has helped to grow one of the largest music and entertainment focused banks in the country.

In 2001, Andy began his banking career at Union Planters Bank then-turned Regions Bank, rising to the role of Commercial Real Estate Credit Manager with credit responsibility for all real estate loan activity in the Southeast.

While pursuing his career path in banking, Andy was also heavily involved in his family’s NASCAR business – Brewco Motorsports (#27, #37, #66) – and various family restaurant companies.

In 2006, Andy co-founded what would become Avenue Bank. While at Avenue, as a member of the Bank’s Executive Team Andy served the dual roles of Chief Credit Officer – managing all aspects of lending and credit – and Bank Group Director, which included leadership of Avenue’s retail branch network, business banking division, private banking division, and music & entertainment division.

In February of 2015, Andy and team embarked on their first public company ‘road show’ and successfully took Avenue Bank public on the Nasdaq Exchange (ticker symbol: AVNU).

In July of 2016, Avenue Bank merged with Nashville based Pinnacle Financial Partners to form one of the Top 50 largest Banks in the United States. Andy joined the leadership team of Pinnacle following the merger and currently serves in the role of Executive Vice President, Director of Music, Sports, & Entertainment. In this role, Andy develops and manages $2B in entertainment related accounts with clients including artists, songwriters, international label and publishing businesses, touring, athletes, and professional sports franchises, among others.

Outside of Banking, Andy is a founder and partner of the Music City Grand Prix, an IndyCar race televised in over 180 countries attracting over 100,000 fans each year. Other pursuits include film (Executive Producer – Murder at Yellowstone City) and early-stage company development and investment.

Andy’s community involvement and accolades include: Exchange Club Family Center, former Chairman of the Board; founding member of Nashville Emerging Leaders; Montgomery Bell Academy Alumni Board; M Street Entertainment Advisory Board; Leadership Music Class of 2014;  Nashville Film Festival Music Committee; The Tennessean’s “Next Up”; Nashville Business Journal’s “40 under 40”; Billboard Magazine’s 2020, 2021, and 2022 Nashville “Power Players”, Music Publishing “Dealmakers”, and 2022/2023 all-industry “Power 100” ranking the music industries 100 most powerful players; Tennessee Entertainment Commission Board (Governor Appointed); Pet Community Center Board; Nashville Entrepreneur Center Board.

Thank you for your support to make our work possible. 

Register Now

Women in National Security Careers

TNWAC hosts a seminar featuring women from a variety of national security disciplines to discuss their career paths, experiences and ups and downs of working in the field.

Press releases, newsletter notes and other materials to promote these panels on your campus and among your networks. TNWAC.org/Careers

Via Zoom

April 19, 2023 @ 11:30am-1:00pm CT

Moderator

Deborah Monroe
 Senior Defense Intelligence Officer (Ret)

Leila Gardner
Assistant Director of Intelligence
United States Marine Corps HQ
& USN Reserve Intelligence Officer

Safa Shahwan Edwards
Deputy Director of Cyber Statecraft, Atlantic Council

Maureen Page
Research Director, Defense Intelligence Agency

THANKS TO TNWAC CORPORATE MEMBERS FOR SUPPORT TO EDUCATION OUTREACH PROGRAMS

THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS IN GLOBAL AFFAIRS AWARENESS AND EDUCATION OUTREACH

THE TENNESSEE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL HAS BEEN A PROUD MEMBER OF THE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCILS OF AMERICA SINCE 2007

THANKS TO OUR PROGRAM PARTNERS IN GLOBAL AFFAIRS AWARENESS AND EDUCATION OUTREACH

THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS IN GLOBAL AFFAIRS AWARENESS AND EDUCATION OUTREACH

Tennessee World Affairs Council Profile | Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee

Member, Center for Nonprofit Management

THE MISSION of the nonprofit, nonpartisan Tennessee World Affairs Council is to promote international awareness, understanding and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and to prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world.

THE VISION of  the Tennessee World Affairs Council is a well-informed community that thinks critically about the world and the impact of global events.

Thank you for your support to make our work possible. 

Register Now

Women in National Security Careers

TNWAC hosts a seminar featuring women from a variety of national security disciplines to discuss their career paths, experiences and ups and downs of working in the field.

Press releases, newsletter notes and other materials to promote these panels on your campus and among your networks. TNWAC.org/Careers

Via Zoom

April 19, 2023 @ 11:30am-1:00pm CT

Moderator

Deborah Monroe
 Senior Defense Intelligence Officer (Ret)

Leila Gardner
Assistant Director of Intelligence
United States Marine Corps HQ
& USN Reserve Intelligence Officer

Safa Shahwan Edwards
Deputy Director of Cyber Statecraft, Atlantic Council

Maureen Page
Research Director, Defense Intelligence Agency

THANKS TO TNWAC CORPORATE MEMBERS FOR SUPPORT TO EDUCATION OUTREACH PROGRAMS

THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS IN GLOBAL AFFAIRS AWARENESS AND EDUCATION OUTREACH

THE TENNESSEE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL HAS BEEN A PROUD MEMBER OF THE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCILS OF AMERICA SINCE 2007

THANKS TO OUR PROGRAM PARTNERS IN GLOBAL AFFAIRS AWARENESS AND EDUCATION OUTREACH

THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS IN GLOBAL AFFAIRS AWARENESS AND EDUCATION OUTREACH

Tennessee World Affairs Council Profile | Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee

Member, Center for Nonprofit Management

THE MISSION of the nonprofit, nonpartisan Tennessee World Affairs Council is to promote international awareness, understanding and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and to prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world.

THE VISION of  the Tennessee World Affairs Council is a well-informed community that thinks critically about the world and the impact of global events.

Thank you for your support to make our work possible. 

International Career Panel

Spring 2023

TNWAC hosts a seminar featuring professionals from a variety of occupations to discuss their career paths, experiences and ups and downs of working in international jobs.

Via Zoom

April 12, 2023 @ 11:30am-1:00pm CT

Moderator

Dr. Gretchen Neisler

University of Tennessee Vice Provost for International Affairs, Director, Center for Global Engagement; Member of Board of Directors, Tennessee World Affairs Council

Panelists

Terrance Fluker – U.S. Peace Corps, Tennessee Regional Recruiter

Saúl Hernández – U.S. State Dept. Foreign Service Officer and Southeast Diplomat in Residence

Sabrina Miller – SVP, Pinnacle Financial Partners, former Foreign Exchange Manager

Rachel Bowen Pittman – Executive Director, United Nations Association, USA

Gretchen Neisler | Moderator

Gretchen Neisler, Vice Provost for International Affairs at the University of Tennessee, works with faculty, staff, students and key stakeholders to understand and deepen their engagement as global citizens. Dr. Neisler has successfully managed over $120 million in grant funding to support the work of international research and development. Gretchen believes higher education must support students in understanding their role as global citizens and use the institutional strength of knowledge creation to solve global challenges the world faces. Additionally, she feels the role of higher education in a community is to understand its societal needs and work collaboratively to meet those needs. Gretchen has worked for 20 years to build global networks that enhance research productivity and preparing a new generation of leaders to take the world’s stage by understanding that problems span geographic boundaries. Her passion is derived from the belief that science has the power to positively impact society and higher education is vital to sharing this knowledge with community stakeholders. Gretchen is an experienced leader with strengths in organizational change and team development. She holds a PhD. in higher education administration from Michigan State University.

Terrance Fluker

Terrance Fluker became the Tennessee Regional Recruiter for the Peace Corps in December 2022.  He has a M.S. in Media Management from Arkansas State University and brings a media background of over 30 years in radio management and programming to the position.  Terrance believes in the basic tenets of the Peace Corps and works to build its profile and awareness of the amazing opportunities the Corps has to offer to residents of Tennessee.  Fluker and his wife Kimberly have been married for 27 years and reside in Nashville.

Saúl Hernández

Saúl Hernández is a career Foreign Service Officer with over eighteen years of experience at the U.S. Department of State. He is the Diplomat in Residence for the Southern region, recruiting diverse talent for career and student program opportunities with the U.S. Department of State.

Saúl was previously the Director for the Outreach and Communications Unit and the Public Diplomacy Incubator Unit in the Office of Policy, Planning, and Resources for the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. He led a team that engages with Congress to advocate for public diplomacy resources for the Department, develops communications strategies for our 4,000 public diplomacy practitioners worldwide, and manages digital outreach to the 700,000 members of the Young African Leaders Initiative Network and the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative Network.

Saúl’s other Department of State assignments include Lima, Peru, where he served as the Press Officer; Washington, DC, where he served as the Digital Media Advisor for the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs and as a Media Relations Officer for the Washington Foreign Press Center; Tbilisi, Georgia, where he served as the Cultural Affairs Officer; and Prague, Czech Republic, and Bogotá, Colombia, where he served as a Consular Officer.

Saúl earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Before joining the Department of State, he worked as an information technology consultant and software developer in the Atlanta area.

Sabrina Miller

Sabrina Miller is a senior vice president with Pinnacle’s commercial banking team in Nashville, TN, responsible for providing distinctive service and effective advice to business and private banking clients. Before joining the firm in 2022, Miller was a senior vice president with the Truist Commercial Banking division in Nashville, where she worked for nearly ten years focusing on for-profit and not-for-profit clients. Prior to relocating to Nashville from New York, she spent eight years on Wall Street focusing on foreign exchange markets and was a relationship manager, foreign exchange specialist at Bloomberg L.P.

Sabrina earned her bachelor’s degree with cum laude honor at the University of Mississippi with a double major in banking & finance and international business.

Sabrina services on the board of directors and finance committee for The Martha O’Bryan Center and is past board treasurer. She is a Class 63 alumna of the Young Leaders Council. Originally from Brazil, Sabrina moved to the United States at age 17 when she was recruited by The University of Mississippi on an NCAA division 1 tennis scholarship and became a naturalized citizen in December of 2013.

Sabrina is a Member of the Tennessee World Affairs Council Board of Directors.

Rachel Bowen Pittman

Throughout her career, Rachel Bowen Pittman has been committed to the idea that individuals, when brought together and motivated around a common vision, can be strong catalysts for change toward a brighter, more just, and more sustainable future.

As Executive Director of UNA-USA, Rachel leads a grassroots advocacy movement of more than 20,000 Americans in 225+ chapters who are dedicated to supporting the work of the United Nations in their communities, on campuses, and on Capitol Hill. She guides the UNA-USA’s strategic work and key partnerships, directs the UNA-USA Fellowship Program, oversees membership expansion, and spearheads important advocacy initiatives to help the United States advance the far-reaching goals of the United Nations. Rachel has been with the UNA-USA—a component of the United Nations Foundation—for more than seven years. Previously as Senior Director of Membership and Programs, she managed the UNA-USA’s national programs and events, including the annual Global Engagement Summit at UN Headquarters, Global Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., and UN Day events across the United States. She also led a successful nationwide fundraising campaign to provide education to youth in refugee camps around the world.

Previously, Rachel served on the leadership teams of several professional associations representing lawyers, surgeons, regulators, and engineers. In those positions, she strengthened membership programs, directed rebranding initiatives, and secured agreements with national associations representing China, Korea, Argentina, India, Peru, Egypt, and Mexico. Rachel holds a B.S.B.A in international business from American University and an MBA in marketing from Johns Hopkins University. She lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area.

THANKS TO TNWAC CORPORATE MEMBERS FOR SUPPORT TO EDUCATION OUTREACH PROGRAMS

THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS IN GLOBAL AFFAIRS AWARENESS AND EDUCATION OUTREACH

THE TENNESSEE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL HAS BEEN A PROUD MEMBER OF THE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCILS OF AMERICA SINCE 2007

THANKS TO OUR PROGRAM PARTNERS IN GLOBAL AFFAIRS AWARENESS AND EDUCATION OUTREACH

THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS IN GLOBAL AFFAIRS AWARENESS AND EDUCATION OUTREACH

Tennessee World Affairs Council Profile | Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee

Member, Center for Nonprofit Management

THE MISSION of the nonprofit, nonpartisan Tennessee World Affairs Council is to promote international awareness, understanding and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and to prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world.

THE VISION of  the Tennessee World Affairs Council is a well-informed community that thinks critically about the world and the impact of global events.

Thank you for your support to make our work possible. 

International Career Panel

Spring 2023

TNWAC hosts a seminar featuring professionals from a variety of occupations to discuss their career paths, experiences and ups and downs of working in international jobs.

Via Zoom

April 12, 2023 @ 11:30am-1:00pm CT

Moderator

Dr. Gretchen Neisler

University of Tennessee Vice Provost for International Affairs, Director, Center for Global Engagement; Member of Board of Directors, Tennessee World Affairs Council

Panelists

Terrance Fluker – U.S. Peace Corps, Tennessee Regional Recruiter

Saúl Hernández – U.S. State Dept. Foreign Service Officer and Southeast Diplomat in Residence

Sabrina Miller – SVP, Pinnacle Financial Partners, former Foreign Exchange Manager

Rachel Bowen Pittman – Executive Director, United Nations Association, USA

Gretchen Neisler | Moderator

Gretchen Neisler, Vice Provost for International Affairs at the University of Tennessee, works with faculty, staff, students and key stakeholders to understand and deepen their engagement as global citizens. Dr. Neisler has successfully managed over $120 million in grant funding to support the work of international research and development. Gretchen believes higher education must support students in understanding their role as global citizens and use the institutional strength of knowledge creation to solve global challenges the world faces. Additionally, she feels the role of higher education in a community is to understand its societal needs and work collaboratively to meet those needs. Gretchen has worked for 20 years to build global networks that enhance research productivity and preparing a new generation of leaders to take the world’s stage by understanding that problems span geographic boundaries. Her passion is derived from the belief that science has the power to positively impact society and higher education is vital to sharing this knowledge with community stakeholders. Gretchen is an experienced leader with strengths in organizational change and team development. She holds a PhD. in higher education administration from Michigan State University.

Terrance Fluker

Terrance Fluker became the Tennessee Regional Recruiter for the Peace Corps in December 2022.  He has a M.S. in Media Management from Arkansas State University and brings a media background of over 30 years in radio management and programming to the position.  Terrance believes in the basic tenets of the Peace Corps and works to build its profile and awareness of the amazing opportunities the Corps has to offer to residents of Tennessee.  Fluker and his wife Kimberly have been married for 27 years and reside in Nashville.

Saúl Hernández

Saúl Hernández is a career Foreign Service Officer with over eighteen years of experience at the U.S. Department of State. He is the Diplomat in Residence for the Southern region, recruiting diverse talent for career and student program opportunities with the U.S. Department of State.

Saúl was previously the Director for the Outreach and Communications Unit and the Public Diplomacy Incubator Unit in the Office of Policy, Planning, and Resources for the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. He led a team that engages with Congress to advocate for public diplomacy resources for the Department, develops communications strategies for our 4,000 public diplomacy practitioners worldwide, and manages digital outreach to the 700,000 members of the Young African Leaders Initiative Network and the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative Network.

Saúl’s other Department of State assignments include Lima, Peru, where he served as the Press Officer; Washington, DC, where he served as the Digital Media Advisor for the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs and as a Media Relations Officer for the Washington Foreign Press Center; Tbilisi, Georgia, where he served as the Cultural Affairs Officer; and Prague, Czech Republic, and Bogotá, Colombia, where he served as a Consular Officer.

Saúl earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Before joining the Department of State, he worked as an information technology consultant and software developer in the Atlanta area.

Sabrina Miller

Sabrina Miller is a senior vice president with Pinnacle’s commercial banking team in Nashville, TN, responsible for providing distinctive service and effective advice to business and private banking clients. Before joining the firm in 2022, Miller was a senior vice president with the Truist Commercial Banking division in Nashville, where she worked for nearly ten years focusing on for-profit and not-for-profit clients. Prior to relocating to Nashville from New York, she spent eight years on Wall Street focusing on foreign exchange markets and was a relationship manager, foreign exchange specialist at Bloomberg L.P.

Sabrina earned her bachelor’s degree with cum laude honor at the University of Mississippi with a double major in banking & finance and international business.

Sabrina services on the board of directors and finance committee for The Martha O’Bryan Center and is past board treasurer. She is a Class 63 alumna of the Young Leaders Council. Originally from Brazil, Sabrina moved to the United States at age 17 when she was recruited by The University of Mississippi on an NCAA division 1 tennis scholarship and became a naturalized citizen in December of 2013.

Sabrina is a Member of the Tennessee World Affairs Council Board of Directors.

Rachel Bowen Pittman

Throughout her career, Rachel Bowen Pittman has been committed to the idea that individuals, when brought together and motivated around a common vision, can be strong catalysts for change toward a brighter, more just, and more sustainable future.

As Executive Director of UNA-USA, Rachel leads a grassroots advocacy movement of more than 20,000 Americans in 225+ chapters who are dedicated to supporting the work of the United Nations in their communities, on campuses, and on Capitol Hill. She guides the UNA-USA’s strategic work and key partnerships, directs the UNA-USA Fellowship Program, oversees membership expansion, and spearheads important advocacy initiatives to help the United States advance the far-reaching goals of the United Nations. Rachel has been with the UNA-USA—a component of the United Nations Foundation—for more than seven years. Previously as Senior Director of Membership and Programs, she managed the UNA-USA’s national programs and events, including the annual Global Engagement Summit at UN Headquarters, Global Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., and UN Day events across the United States. She also led a successful nationwide fundraising campaign to provide education to youth in refugee camps around the world.

Previously, Rachel served on the leadership teams of several professional associations representing lawyers, surgeons, regulators, and engineers. In those positions, she strengthened membership programs, directed rebranding initiatives, and secured agreements with national associations representing China, Korea, Argentina, India, Peru, Egypt, and Mexico. Rachel holds a B.S.B.A in international business from American University and an MBA in marketing from Johns Hopkins University. She lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area.

THANKS TO TNWAC CORPORATE MEMBERS FOR SUPPORT TO EDUCATION OUTREACH PROGRAMS

THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS IN GLOBAL AFFAIRS AWARENESS AND EDUCATION OUTREACH

THE TENNESSEE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL HAS BEEN A PROUD MEMBER OF THE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCILS OF AMERICA SINCE 2007

THANKS TO OUR PROGRAM PARTNERS IN GLOBAL AFFAIRS AWARENESS AND EDUCATION OUTREACH

THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS IN GLOBAL AFFAIRS AWARENESS AND EDUCATION OUTREACH

Tennessee World Affairs Council Profile | Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee

Member, Center for Nonprofit Management

THE MISSION of the nonprofit, nonpartisan Tennessee World Affairs Council is to promote international awareness, understanding and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and to prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world.

THE VISION of  the Tennessee World Affairs Council is a well-informed community that thinks critically about the world and the impact of global events.

TNWAC | World Affairs Council of the Year 2022

Canada Trade Fact Sheet

James K. Hill, Consul General of Canada, Atlanta

Mr. Hill joined the Department of External Affairs in 1989. Prior to his assignment as Canada’s Ambassador to the Republic of Costa Rica with cross accreditation to the Republics of Honduras and Nicaragua, Mr. Hill served abroad as Consul General in Seattle, Washington; Chargé d’ affaires at the Embassy of Canada in Kuwait; Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Canada in Kabul, Afghanistan, and Chargé d’affaires at the Embassy of Canada, Tripoli, Libya. These were preceded by assignments as High Commissioner of Canada in Maputo, Mozambique; Consul General of Canada, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Head of the Canadian Kosovo Diplomatic Observer Mission in Pristina, Kosovo (Yugoslavia) and as Second Secretary & Vice Consul at the Embassy of Canada in Tehran, Iran.

At Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa, Mr. Hill held management positions as Director for Middle East & Africa Commercial/Economic Relations, Director for Europe & Central Asia Commercial/Economic Relations, Deputy Director of the Latin America Division and Deputy Director of the Western Hemisphere Summits Office.

Mr. Hill was born and raised in Weyburn, Saskatchewan.

James K. Hill: B. Ed., University of Saskatchewan, 1983; BA [History], University of Saskatchewan, 1985; Post Graduate Diploma [International Studies], University Cândido Mendes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1998.

Support TNWAC and Global Affairs Education In Our Schools

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Annual Report of “savED” work to restore Ukraine schools – discussed in the video

Podcast “Global Tennessee” Series

We are in the 12^th month of war in Ukraine following Russia’s unprovoked invasion of its sovereign neighbor. In that time we have witnessed attacks and war crimes against the Ukrainian people, against their cities, transportation infrastructure, the energy grid, ports and schools. The World Economic Forum said last summer 6.6 million Ukrainians had fled the country, 3.5 million to Poland alone. Of those 94% were women and children.
 
This powerful story of experiences and perspectives of these women provide insights into the humanitarian catastrophe in Ukraine as a result of President Vladimir Putin’s and Russia’s brutal campaign.

In Focus: Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine | A View from Kyiv

The unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine has been catastrophic for the Ukrainian people. Millions of refugees have fled to neighboring nations to the west, horrendous war crimes have been committed in areas controlled by Russian forces and nation-wide attacks against civilian areas and infrastructure have caused extreme hardships in cities large and small. We continue our “In Focus” series on Russia’s invasion with a conversation with Anna Novosad, former Minister of Education and Science from Ukraine and an education activist working to rebuild and restore schools and education infrastructure. She will join us from Kyiv where she is among her countrymen under constant Russian bombardment.

Anna Novosad

Ukraine | Educational Activist & Minister of Education and Science 2019-2020

Anna Novosad is a Ukrainian educational activist. She used to serve many years in various positions at the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, including being a Minister in 2019-2020. Anna contributed and led the comprehensive school reform in Ukraine, as well as was a leader of the higher education funding reform. Currently Anna leads various projects that aim at education access renewal in Ukraine amidst the war.

Elena and Madeleine Byrd

Mother-daughter duo, Mrs. Elena and Dr. Madeleine Byrd have spent most of the past year volunteering in Warsaw, Poland, providing humanitarian aid and medical services to Ukrainian refugees. Following the outbreak of war, Madeleine and Elena began volunteering at a major refugee center in Warsaw where they assisted in the development of the refugee center’s “Medical Point.” Through many months of working in the “Medical Point,” they have come to better understand the vast medical and resource needs of refugees. They gained additional experience as community volunteers for other medical, educational, and humanitarian services, with a focus on children displaced by war.

Elena Camacho Byrd

Elena Camacho Byrd, born in Lausanne, Switzerland, grew up in Cuba before she and her family fled during the Cuban Revolution to move to the United States. Elena received a BA in English and Sociology, as well as a Master of Science in Education from the University of Pennsylvania. She studied Land Economy at the University of Cambridge. She received an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Elena spent over fifteen years working in public health writing grant proposals and assisting physicians in patient care, primarily in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.  In the United States, she has served as a teacher and tutor for students of all ages. She is now an active volunteer in the Nashville community, where she is a long-term Board member of the Tennessee Poison Center. Elena is fluent in English and Spanish. She is married to Barney Byrd, and has three grown children.

Dr. Madeleine Byrd, M.S., M.D.

Madeleine Elizabeth Byrd, M.S., M.D. was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, where she attended The Harpeth Hall School. Madeleine received her B.A. in neuroscience from The University of Pennsylvania. She completed her Master’s in Pharmacology and M.D. at Georgetown University. Madeleine has strong family ties to medicine on both sides of her family, and is a fourth generation “Dr. Byrd” in Nashville. Madeleine has wanted to be a pediatrician since age 7, inspired by her maternal grandmother who was a pediatrician and global public health specialist. After graduating from medical school, she went to Charleston, South Carolina for pediatric residency training. Madeleine has a lifelong passion for pediatrics and public health. Most recently, Madeleine has served as a volunteer physician for Ukrainian refugees in Warsaw, Poland.