Montana World Affairs Council Welcomes Janet Rose As Executive Director

The Montana World Affairs Council https://www.montanaworldaffairs.org/ , a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization whose mission is "bringing the world to Montana and Montana to the world," will have a new Executive Director. Council Board President, Charlie Oliver and the Board of Directors announced the appointment of Janet Rose as Executive Director in the New Year.

Established in 2000, the Council offers opportunities to better understand current events and international issues through people-to-people diplomacy, distinguished speakers, and educational outreach programs. Council founder, retired Ambassador Mark Johnson, says Montana’s late Senator Mike Mansfield, described the vision for the Council best — "Montanans have room to live, to breathe, and above all, to think with a breadth of view which goes to the far horizon and beyond."

Rose has worked in international affairs as a journalist, executive director and senior development director. Early in her career, Janet was based at the United Nations covering international affairs for the BBC and other news outlets. As a journalist, Rose traveled throughout the Middle East, Central and South America, covering meetings on the Panama Canal and writing about border tensions between Israel and neighboring nations. Rose is former Executive Director of the International Wildlife Film Festival and Media Center, and recently returned to Missoula full-time after a four year tenure with the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium and International Conservation Center as the Zoo’s Senior Director of Development & Conservation Initiatives. Janet was also former Director of Communications for International Programs of the Wildlife Conservation Society and head of Development and Communications for Save the Chimps, an organization that works with Dr. Jane Goodall.

Janet has called Montana home for more than two decades, and with her husband, raised two daughters in a rural community outside of Missoula. Raising children in a rural school district and working with youth programs across the state she says, gave her a first-hand understanding of the need and importance of exposing young people to international issues. "We are fortunate in Montana, to be in many ways insulated from the influences of the wider world, but curious as to the role that we can play in shaping that world. Our lives can be enriched by understanding global issues and the impact these affairs have upon us here in Montana." The World Affairs Council achieves this through a wide range of acclaimed youth education programs, including Academic WorldQuest, Distinguished Speaker Series, Council in the Classroom, and a popular radio program, Council on the Radio hosted by Robert Seidenschwarz featuring interviews with international leaders."

After a national search, Rose was selected to lead the Council and says, "I am honored and thrilled to be joining an organization that I have admired and followed. I watched its growth and evolution and the impact of its programs, as well as the quality of speakers the Council brought to Montana. I hope to continue these efforts and expand our reach to more rural schools where youth have fewer opportunities to be exposed to global affairs." Rose also hopes to build more educational partnerships with tribal leaders and schools on Indian reservations.

Rose adds, "There is no other organization like the Montana World Affairs Council, and its impact on global education for thousands of young Montanans is great. Through the World Affairs Council we have an opportunity to bring important issues to diverse audiences. I treasure this opportunity to contribute to the future of our youth and our communities. I hope many will join us."

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The Montana World Affairs Council is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering global awareness and understanding in Montana’s classrooms and communities. https://www.montanaworldaffairs.org/

You can view previous Montana World Affairs Council events recorded by MCAT here: http://162.219.73.99/Cablecast/public-site/index.html#/search?channel=2&query=Montana%20world%20affairs%20council