World Affairs Council of Houston
The World Affairs Council of Houston is an organization that ...
History[edit]
Founded by a group of 14 individuals in 1976, after a two-month-long foreign policy study program was an organization called "Gulf Coast Council on Foreign Affairs". The program was hosted by the Foreign Policy Association who have been around for over 100 years. Their purpose at the time was to garnish support for President Woodrow Wilson and his ideology behind the "Fourteen Points" in addition to encouraging more citizens to get involved in world affairs. The first Board Chairman and later also became the Council Executive Director was Robert Handy. Eight years after the creation of the organization, Robert Handy resigned and took a position as the Executive Director of Houston World Trade Center Association. From 1976-1984 the organization began taking steps into becoming a solidified presence in the Houston community. The organization grew so big that programs were developed to ensure the community's awareness of global issues to include international politics, economics, military issues, and increase cultural diversity. In 1984, a new Executive Director was chosen, William J. Cunningham, the Director for the Center for International Studies at the University of St. Thomas (Texas). Over the following years "Gulf Coast Council on Foreign Affairs" undergone a few name changes starting with its first in 1984 but by 1990 finally settled on the World Affairs Council of Houston.
Present[edit]
World Affairs Council of Houston is still active today functioning as a non-profit organization made up of citizens, students, and community leaders. It holds approximately 100 lectures, briefings, and debates each year bringing a variety of well-renowned public speakers and global leaders to the Houston area. Today the organization is comprised of over 7,000 enrolled members and has become a well-respected organization among its local and global community. Today the Chief Executive officer is Mary Maldonado who has been recognized as one of Houston's Most Influential Women of 2018 according to Houston Woman Magazine. She has procured a staff that has allowed her to continue the mission of World Affairs Council of Houston and has created a new program called, Global Young Professionals, designed as a networking and leadership opportunity for early young professionals.
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Maryanne Maldonado | Chief Executive Officer |
| Sandija Bayot | Chief Development Officer |
| Jack Sim | Chief Financial Officer |
| Ronan O'Malley | Director of Programs |
| Cheri Rocha | Administrative Services Officer |
| Jahan Jafarpour | Member Services Officer |
| Felecia Chatman | Senior International Education Manager |
| Viridiana Otamendi | Programs Coordinator |
| Shweta Roy | Marketing & Communications Manager |
Programs & Events[edit]
As a non-profit, non-partisan organization the World Affairs Council of Houston offers multiple programs and events monthly that offer dialogue and understanding through the sharing of ideas in a safe and respectful environment. World Affairs Council of Houston: Programs & Events
References[edit]
- https://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/taro/uhsc/00191/hsc-00191.html
- https://coursehorse.com/houston/schools/life-skills/world-affairs-council-of-greater-houston
