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George M. Lies
POSITION

Special Programs Manager; Fulbright Scholars WVU Campus Rep.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Coordination of Special International Programs/Exchanges;
  • Development of Grants, Programs, Budgets; Communications and Administration
  • Program Development and Management of Special Projects

SUMMARY: SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATOR, MANAGER, COORDINATOR

Since 1992, George M. Lies has assisted WVU faculty and professionals across the university by providing leadership and direction, in terms of managing and coordinating international visitor exchange programs; developing Institute and short course programs for professional development, training, and leadership; and advising on cultural issues, and arranging study and research tours for international visitors. He assists in arranging special visits, projects, and agendas for international visitors throughout the year. Fluent in both Portuguese and Spanish, he has worked with international visitors from many disciplines from Brazil, China, Colombia, Europe, Mexico, and Mozambique. He has also managed large WVU projects with Argentina, India, Indonesia, and South Korea.

LANGUAGES

English

Portuguese

Spanish

MAJOR PROJECTS, JANUARY 1992 -- AUGUST 1998: ROLE: PROGRAM MANAGER; PROGRAM DEVELOPER

  • India Technical Educators Professional Development (World Bank), 1998
  • Korean Summer Professional Development Program (Ministry of Education), 1997
  • Korean Summer Professional Development Program (Ministry of Education), 1996
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution for Indonesia, (USIA), 1994-1996
  • Health and Nutrition for Women in Mexico (Heinz Corp.), 1993-1994
  • Mine Operations and Management for Siberia, Ukraine (Private, Public), 1993-1994
  • Conflict Resolution for Labor and Management in Argentina (USIA), 1992-1993

MAJOR INTERNATIONAL PROJECT AND PROGRAM PROFILES

1998 - Working with WVU’s Technology Education Dept., he assisted in developing a Professional Development Program for six leading Technical Educator from throughout India. The program, funded through the World Bank, involved Mr. Lies in coordinating agendas, handling sensitive cultural issues, arranging for cultural activities. The project was developed as a fellowship type program. Field trips involved visits to the Fairmont, WV based offices of NASA; arranging for field visits to schools, areawide Technology Education programs; and a few industrial centers in the state. The India Project Director later requested WVU, as a result, to develop other programs in the areas of distance education technologies and telecommunications.

1996 and 1997 - Developed and received two international contracts (one $80,000; the other $75,000) from the Ministry of Korea to coordinate and manage Special Summer Programs for Korean English Teachers. This Professional Development Program involved professional development for 40 teachers of English from South Korea. These programs lasted four weeks in July and led to creation of approximately 12-16 WVU summer job positions. The program included coordination of numerous cultural visits, communications on sensitive issues, and field activities. This project may involve multi-year activities in science, engineering, and intensive English in the future.

1994 through 1996 - Developed program, wrote narrative, and created a budget for a $113,991 U.S. Information Agency program, "Alternative Dispute Resolution Strategies for Indonesia", a Labor and Management program awarded in February 1994. As Program Manager, he was involved in planning and coordinating four (4) weeks of U.S. arrangements for a group of seven Indonesian labor and legal aid participants, including visits, and program itinerary among four WVU colleges; several U.S. government agencies (e.g., U.S. State, Labor, FMCS); private companies (e.g., PPG; Dow Glass, Alcan; Weirton Steel, Miles, Inc.); and labor unions (e.g., AFL-CIO, UMWA). This consisted of two weeks of intensive seminars in Pittsburgh and Morgantown, and 2200 miles in vans over 14-days in visits to eight sites in WV, PA, MD, and D.C.). A follow-up consultancy by a WVU-led team involved briefings for an audience of about 300 representatives of labor/management in Indonesia.

1993 through 1994 - Mexico - Advised on program strategy, budget, and concept; analyzed data and wrote narrative of grant proposal for WVU Family Resources in "Health and Nutrition and Health" training program or nurses in Guanajuato, Mexico (Dr. Marian Liddell). The H.J. Heinz Corporation Foundation funded the project.

1993 through 1994 – Siberia, Russia, and Ukraine – Assisted in development and conceptual design of 3-week and 1 week training programs for three separate groups of Ukraine coal executives (about 12 to 16 in group) from Siberia, Russia, and Ukraine, coordinating field visits to mining companies in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Wyoming. Coordinated program for former Dean R. Larry Grayson, WVU College of Mineral and Energy Resources. Funded through public and private sources. His background as a Curriculum Designer and Training in Mine Health and Safety (1983-1993, WVU Mining Extension Service) provided a foundation for arranging and coordinating these educational exchange programs

1992 and 1993 - Developed program and budget in 1991, and coordinated a $65,000 U.S. Information Agency program, "Conflict Resolution Strategies for Labor and Management in Argentina". As Program Manager for this U.S. study tour in May of 1992 for 10 leading representatives of labor, management, and government from Argentina, Mr. Lies assisted in identifying seminar content; planning and coordinating U.S. arrangements including site visits and cultural itinerary. This involved delicate scheduling among three WVU colleges; U.S. government agencies (e.g. FMCS; private companies, e.g., Weirton Steel, Miles, Inc.; and labor unions. The project covered 1300 miles via vans in 15-days of site visits to seven towns in WV, PA, MD, and D.C. As part of a three-member follow-up team, he held briefings with high level officials in Argentina and Uruguay in October 1992, in the area of labor and management training. His fluency in Spanish enabled him to hold private meetings with universities, Peace Corps offices, and in-country government groups.

RELATED INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS ROLES

Communications: He originated the WVU OIP Webpage in 1998-99, using Front Page Microsoft. Over the years, he has handled public relations and news releases for International Programs including WVU Study Abroad, using Microsoft Word and Word Perfect software; designed brochures using various desktop software programs, such as Pagemaker. He has written, edited, and designed newsletters, internal memoranda, policy papers, other publications. He has experience in photography. His 7 years as editor and reporter in newspapers, including work in Washington, D.C., provided a basis for these assignments.

Research and Administration: For developing budgets, he is capable in Microsoft Excel. He uses various Foundation Directories for identifying sources of external funding as well as electronic forms such as Netscape search engines. Leadership: As an experienced WVU professional, he has led technical briefings for WVU faculty/staff in the areas of Fulbright Scholar applications; external grant sources, and grant writing and development areas. For most of 19 years, he has assisted with the statewide Partners of Americas Program, involving exchanges between WV and Espirito Santo (Brazil). Travel: Since 1975-76, he has visited Brazil several times, and has traveled extensively in Italy and vicinity. He has been in most of the countries of Latin America.

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WVU Office of International Programs Phone: (304) 293-6955

P.O. Box 6214 Fax: (304) 293-6957

Morgantown, WV 26506

Citizenship: United States

E-mail to: glies@wvu.edu