Staff
Ann Olsen Schodde
President and CEO
Ann Schodde is President & CEO of the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy (USCCD), a national organization founded in 2006 to promote and expand opportunity for all Americans to be citizen diplomats and affirm the indispensible value of citizen involvement in foreign relations. Throughout her 30-year career, Schodde has held various leadership and consulting positions with higher education and international non-profit organizations, as well as more than 21 private foundations, professional associations and government agencies. She has worked with embassy staff from over 60 countries.
Much of Schodde’s work throughout the world has involved developing two-way and one-way exchanges, and facilitating in-country technical assistance and training. She holds a double major degree in Political Science and Speech from the University of Wisconsin and a M.Ed. from Cornell University.
Thomas W. Gittins
Consultant, Washington, D.C. Liaison
Thomas Gittins is President of Gittins & Associates, Inc., a consulting services firm specializing in international programs and projects, meetings planning and management, non-profit organizations, overseas institutions and corporations. Gittins left a career as an insurance broker to become the Associate Director and then Director of the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic. He later served as Chief of Operations for the Latin America bureau of the Peace Corps. During his time as Executive Vice President & CEO of Sister Cities International, the program grew to include over 2,000 city linkages throughout the world between U.S. cities and cities in 100 other countries.
Gittins has served as a board member of the International Exchange Association, the International Leadership Institute, Fondo Quisqueya, Institute 21, the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation, World Learning, NCIV, and the Coalition for Citizen Diplomacy. He has been a member of advisory committees to President Regan and to President Carter, and has served as a public member of the Foreign Service Selection Board. He is a graduate of Cornell University.
Diane Rasmussen
Director of Communications
Diane Rasmussen has been with the USCCD since 2007, and currently serves as Director of Communications. She provides direction on the development, execution of and response to content for the USCCD’s website resources and electronic outreach. She is also involved in marketing, program & event coordination, fundraising, administrative support, and management of internal office staff and the university intern program.
Rasmussen has served in multiple volunteer capacities, including as a mentor for high-risk youth and school-to-work programs, and as charter board member, former president and current social chair of the Downtown Des Moines Neighborhood Association. Diane is a NCIDQ certified designer with over 20 years experience in the corporate world. She graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a BA in Design and the Human Environment with an emphasis in Business.
Matt Clark
Program Director
Matt Clark first joined the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy as an intern during his senior year at Drake University. After graduating in the spring of 2009 with degrees in Political Science and Public Relations, Matt took a job with the JET Program and moved to central Japan. He spent two life-changing years living and working with Japanese friends and colleagues, falling in love with the country and its people. Matt returned to Des Moines in the fall of 2011 to lead the USCCD’s Japan Center. In addition to his commitment to promoting relations between Japan and the American Midwest, Matt has a passion for citizen diplomacy in all forms. He has been lucky enough to spend time in 15 countries around the world, learning from people and cultures along the way.
Tracy Hersom
Web Specialist
Tracy Hersom joined the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy in 2011. She has more than 10 years of experience working in the information technology field. Tracy is a 2006 graduate of Grand View University, where she graduated with honors and majored in Computer Science. While attending college she became a member of Alpha Sigma Lambda, which is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies. Alpha Sigma Lambda’s aim is to recognize the special achievements of adults who accomplish academic excellence while facing competing interests of home and work.
Connie Wilson
Graphic Designer
Connie Wilson is principal of Connie Wilson Design, Ltd., a graphic design firm specializing in the design and production of print, environmental and web-based marketing tools for art, architecture, museum and service related clients. In addition to being an active designer for over 30 years, Connie has taught typography and graphic design classes as an adjunct instructor in the Department of Art & Design at Drake University for 20 years. Outside of work, one of her great joys is her involvement with her sister in Grassroots, an organization formed to fund and build a high school for girls in a rural Indian village. Since its formation, the organization has raised money and built three school buildings, a bakery, and a reforestation project for the women in the village. The organization continues to support any girls who graduate from the high-school and want continue on to college. Connie is a member and past president of the Art Directors Association of Iowa, a founding member of the Iowa chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Arts, and a member of the Type Directors Club.
Joel Maidens
Blog & Social Media Specialist
Joel Maidens has been with the U.S. Center since 2009 when he was an intern during the fall semester. In the spring of 2008 he studied in Hangzhou, China, where he acquired his interest in Chinese language. After graduating in 2010 from Central College with degrees in Political Science and International Studies, he continued his work with the U.S. Center by writing blogs and working to expand its social media presence. Joel will finish his graduate studies at Valparaiso University in May 2012 with a Chinese Studies M.A. He hopes to use his knowledge of China and Mandarin language skills to improve U.S.-China relations and increase cooperation between the two countries, especially in the field of global higher education, and through the vehicle of citizen-to-citizen diplomacy and bilateral partnerships. Joel’s passport contains stamps from China, Romania, the Netherlands, Canada, Mexico and Italy.
Eduardo Tamez Zamarripa
Blog & Social Media Specialist
Eduardo Tamez Zamarripa currently studies News Internet Journalism and English with a minor in Politics at Drake University. He joined the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy as a blogger in August of 2011. Eduardo was born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico, before moving to Des Moines to complete his undergraduate studies. He is the Sports Editor of the Drake University Times-Delphic newspaper, as well as a staff writer and producer for the Iowa Sports Connection television program. Eduardo also serves as a Native Speaker Instructor in the Spanish Language Program at Drake. He is happy to be part of an organization that promotes cultural understanding around the world.
Katie Vergosen
University Intern
Katie Vergosen is a senior at Drake University. She will graduate in May 2012 with degrees in International Relations and Music, as well as a Global Ambassador Certificate. At Drake, Katie has been involved in the Language Acquisition Program in French, ONE, Students for Women’s Issues, Model European Union and United Nations Simulations, and currently performs as Principal Oboist in both the Drake Wind Symphony and Symphony Orchestra. In Fall 2010, Katie studied abroad in Vienna, Austria, where she acquired her interests in Germanic language and culture. She has held internships at the Austrian NGO Women-Without-Borders and at the Minneapolis-based Nonviolent Peaceforce. Currently serving as a Study Abroad Ambassador, Katie also works at the Drake University International Center.