Center Staff

Ann Olsen Schodde | President and CEO

Ann Olsen Schodde has been involved in education and international relations throughout her thirty-year professional career. She has held leadership positions in higher education and international non-profit organizations; and consulted or managed programs for more than 21 private foundations, professional associations and government agencies, including the Stanley Foundation, World Food Prize Foundation, Carnegie Council on Ethics and International Affairs, Sister Cities International, World Affairs Councils of America, Business for Diplomatic Action, USAID, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Cultural and Educational Affairs, the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Ukraine Foundation. Ms. Schodde has developed and managed international cultural and educational programs in the U.S. and throughout out the world involving two-way and one –way exchanges and in-country technical assistance and training in Tunisia, Ukraine, Malaysia, the Peoples Republic of China, Russia, France, and Mexico.

In 2007, Schodde designed the U.S Arab Business Fellows Program for a partnership exchange program with Business for Diplomatic Action and the National U.S Arab Chamber of Commerce. The Middle East partner organization is Young Arab Leaders (YAL) based in Dubai. Since its inception, the program has involved 20 participants from eight Middle East countries and twelve U.S business fellows.

Familiar with the Washington world of international, cultural and educational exchange, Schodde has served on committees and held leadership positions with the National Continuing Education Association, the Association of American Community Colleges, the National Council of International Visitors, and the Coalition for Citizen Diplomacy. In addition, she has worked with embassy staff from over 60 countries and has testified before Congress on two occasions in support of increased allocations in the international affairs budget 150 account, for international education and cultural exchange programs.

From 1992 – 2000, Schodde served as Executive Director of the Iowa Council for International Understanding. Prior to 1992, she directed two divisions of the College of Continuing Education at Drake University, and served as Vice President for Development at Des Moines Area Community College in Iowa, directing the college Foundation Board, federal legislation, international programs, grants and marketing departments. In 2002, Schodde formed an international consulting firm, ITEBS & Associates and assisted non-profit organizations throughout the country to expand their international outreach programs. In her current position as President & CEO of the USCCD, she is responsible for supervision of staff, consultants and a university intern program, and reports to a 22 member Board of Directors from throughout the United States and an Advisory Council with members from around the world.

Schodde holds a double major degree in Political Science and Speech from the University of Wisconsin and an M.Ed. from Cornell University. She is married to Dr. Stephen C. Schodde and has three grown children.

Click here to read Ann's contribution article in Edie Fraser's book: "Do Your Giving While You Are Living".

Brice C. Oakley | Consultant, Government Affairs

Brice Oakley has had a career in law and public service spanning over 45 years. He has served as an Iowa Assistant Attorney General, a trial lawyer, an elected school board member, two terms in the Iowa House of Representatives, and four years as Administrative Counsel to former Governor Robert D. Ray.

He returned to the private sector with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Iowa and in Washington D.C. as the BCBSA’s Executive Director of State Relations.

Since 1997 he has been a partner in Avenson, Oakley & Cope Consulting, a state government relations firm currently representing over 30 clients including the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Microsoft, six community colleges, Koch Industries and Qwest.

His most recent volunteer public service work includes nine years on the Iowa Arts Council and in 2007 a gubernatorial appointment to the Iowa Capitol Planning Commission where he serves as chair.

Jan Holmes Drees | Director of Education

Jan Holmes Drees is a consultant and Executive Director of the Business/Education Alliance, a partnership of Iowa businesses and schools promoting excellence in education. As Executive Director of the Alliance, Drees led the development of a new Masters Degree Program in Advanced Studies in Education at Drake University, offered in conjunction with the Alliance. Drees has served as an adjunct professor for the University and provides consultation services in the areas of professional development for K-12 educators, environmental education, international programs, community collaboration and the arts and sciences. Drees works with the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy, Earthpark, Great Ape Trust and the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation.

Prior to beginning her consulting business in 2007, Drees had a 35 year public school career in K-12 education, focusing on special education, gifted education, home schooling, international programs and K-12 administration. In her work with the public schools and business community, Drees provided leadership for the development of the award winning Downtown School, a public school named one of the 10 best schools in the nation by a national panel of experts in education. The Downtown School was also one of seven featured organizations in the 2006 business management book The Disney Way, by Bill Capodagli and Lynn Jackson. Drees also developed the Des Moines School District’s Home Instruction Program for home schooling families, and served as the principal of Edmunds Fine Arts Academy and the Downtown School. Drees has served on boards or advisory councils for the Iowa Environmental Project, Make a Wish Foundation, Drake University College of Education, ACT Work Keys, YMCA, The Boy Scouts of America, Earthpark and Junior Achievement.

M. Jessica Rowe | Director of Programs and Initiatives

M. Jessica Rowe is principal of Rowe Consulting, LC, and specializes in visual arts management, modern connoisseurship, as well as innovative collaborations to engage diverse populations. A former art museum director, she administered multi-million dollar operations to drive and implement thought provoking programs and broaden dialogue in the arts globally. She cultivated relationships with cultural organizations, collectors and artists in the U.S., Canada and Europe, and organized exchange projects. Rowe has published articles on contemporary culture, and books, films and exhibitions about the art of our time.

Rowe was part of a team of professionals who launched the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy (USCCD) in 2006. From 2007-08, she produced the USCCD’s citizen recognition campaign — National Awards for Citizen Diplomacy. She managed the USCCD’s Presidential Forums on International Relations (2007) and a national forum series (2008-09), Who Speaks for Islam?, in partnership with Gallup and World Affairs Councils. In October 2008, she was among 38 experts who participated in a leadership forum at Wingspread, The Johnson Foundation Conference Center in Racine, Wisconsin – and helped to present the Initiative for Global Citizen Diplomacy in February 2009.

Rowe has advised and written on curatorial matters for the University Museums at Iowa State University and the Iowa Arts Council, Department of Cultural Affairs. She worked with a global media and marketing company to develop a précis exhibition of its first 100 years of operation. In 2006, she established a corporate art collection program for Federal Home Loan Bank. In 2005, with the Brazilian-American Cultural Institute, Washington, D.C., she organized 20th Century film and contemporary lecture programs on Brazilian culture. In Tunis, Tunisia, during a 2005 professional exchange program, she coached and advised entrepreneurial women on conflict management and leadership style.

During her tenure as director and chief curator of the Blanden Memorial Art Museum (1977-1987) Fort Dodge, Iowa, and as deputy director and acting director of the Des Moines Art Center (1987-2004), Rowe accomplished ambitious and mission-building agendas. At Blanden, she led organizational change, cultivated stakeholders and worked with the governing municipal board, private foundation trustees and professional staff, to garner national standing and establish professional museum practices. The City and Foundation boards adopted a resolution of distinguished service with the establishment of an arts acquisition fund in her name. With the Des Moines Art Center’s collection of 20th Century and contemporary masterpieces, world-class architecture, endowments that exceeded $70 million amid $94 million of assets, Rowe served as its chief operating and financial officer. She administered 12 departments, guided multidisciplinary teams and capital projects, and advanced international exhibitions.

A native of Maryland, Rowe studied at Hastings College in Nebraska, Syracuse University in New York, Universita Internazionale Dell’arte di Firenze, Italia, and Museum Management Institute/Getty Leadership Institute at the University of California, Berkeley.

Thomas W. Gittins | Consultant, Washington, D.C. Liaison

Thomas W. Gittins is President of Gittins & Associates, Inc., a consulting services firm specializing in international programs and projects, special project activities, meetings planning and management, non-profit organizations, international organizations, overseas institutions and corporations.

As a graduate of Cornell University, Tom joined the administration there as assistant director of alumni relations. He then moved on to a career as an insurance broker in Delaware, from which he took a leave of absence to become the associate director and director of the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic. Following that, he left the insurance business and returned to Washington, D.C., where he served as chief of operations for the Latin America bureau of the Peace Corps.

Tom left Peace Corps to become Executive Vice President and CEO of Sister Cities International, a private, non-profit national association of U.S. cities and citizen volunteer committees that have “sister-city” affiliations with cities overseas for the purpose of international professional, educational, cultural, technical, municipal and business exchange. Under his leadership, the program grew to include over 2,000 city linkages throughout the world between U.S. cities and cities in 100 other countries. During his administration, he led the growth and development of the U.S. sister Cities program to the point where it is one of the most highly respected and effective private, community-based, citizen exchange mechanisms anywhere, with a proven track record for innovation and achievement.

He was a founding board member of the International Exchange Association, a consortium of citizen exchange organizations in the U.S.; of the International Leadership Institute for international volunteer leader development; of Fondo Quisqueya, a foundation providing education and training opportunities to needy candidates in the Dominican Republic; and, of Institute 21, a training and education organization focusing on assistance to emerging democracies. 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 member of the Advisory Board of the U.S. – Ukraine Foundation, a former member of the Board of trustees of World Learning and a founding member of the Coalition for Citizen Diplomacy.

Diane Rasmussen | Director of Communications

Diane Rasmussen has been involved with the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy since 2007, first as a volunteer and currently as Consultant for Communications & Administration. She is engaged in various activities and provides direction on the development and execution of content for the U.S. Center's extensive web site resources and electronic newsletter.

She has served in multiple volunteer capacities over the years, including interacting with high-risk youth. For Mentor Iowa, she was among a diverse group of trained volunteer mentors to abused, neglected and delinquent children who were under the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court. She has also volunteered for various reading and school-to-work programs. She was a charter board member and president of the Downtown Des Moines Neighborhood Association- described as having one foot firmly rooted in Iowa soil and the other in downtown urban life.

In addition to her non-profit involvement, Rasmussen has over 20 years experience in the business world consulting with a variety of corporate, government and health care clients in all capacities of the commercial design and contract furniture industry. Diane is a NCIDQ certified interior designer and has served in branch management, sales, marketing, and project management capacity, as well as a liaison to AIA Iowa and the local architectural community.

Recently, she has been researching and developing plans for her own sustainable, green home, as well as future agritourism and ecotourism projects. She graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in Design with emphasis in Human Environment/Business.

Rasmussen is a concerned citizen of the world with varied interests that revolve around nurturing creativity, joy and personal connections. She has a passion for knowledge and travel, and is consistently planning the next opportunity for either. In an annual poll of three youngsters, she consistently maintains "Favorite Aunt" status through a keen focus on laughter and adventure - including a master plan for providing each with their first experience abroad. Diane Rasmussen takes pride in her role as citizen diplomat serving as one of many unofficial ambassadors for the U.S. in her interactions with the world around her.