GIA names Shahdeh Ammadi director of institute relations

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has appointed Shahdeh Ammadi to the newly-created position of director of institute relations. Ammadi will oversee GIA's global alumni program, the GemKids program for young, aspiring gemologists as well as guest services at the GIA headquarters.

"The more than 130,000 active GIA alumni in 65 chapters around the world are important ambassadors for our Institute and help to fulfill our mission to ensure the public trust in gems and jewelry," said GIA President and CEO Susan Jacques. "Shahdeh will help us enhance, re-envision and implement programs, resources and infrastructure to support life-long learning and success for our wonderful and dedicated GIA graduates."

"I am very excited to bring my experience to GIA and its incredible alumni," said Ammadi, a former director of alumni relations and annual giving at the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP) in New York. "I look forward to working with the volunteer alumni leaders to help them meet the needs and interests of their chapter members, and to advance GIA's consumer protection mission."

Based in Carlsbad, California and reporting to Vice President of Education and Chief Academic Officer Duncan Pay, Ammadi will also oversee GIA's GemKids program, which introduces minerals, gems and gemology to children ages 9 to 12. GIA offers this engaging gemology learning experience at the Institute’s Carlsbad headquarters - where nearly 5,000 students take part each year - and in other locations, including Botswana and South Africa. She will also lead the guest services team, which hosted 5,000 additional visitors at the Carlsbad headquarters for tours of the Institute in 2018.