The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has appointed Shahdeh Ammadi (pictured) to the position of director of institute relations.

This is a newly created position, the GIA said.

In her new role, Ammadi will oversee the institute’s global alumni program, which includes more than 130,000 active programs in 65 chapters around the world; its guest services team, which hosted 5,000 additional visitors at its Carlsbad, Calif., headquarters for tours last year; and GIA’s GemKids program, which introduces minerals, gems, and gemology to children ages 9–12. The latter program attracts 5,000 students every year to events in Carlsbad, Botswana, and South Africa.

She will be based in Carlsbad and report to GIA’s vice president of education and chief academic officer Duncan Pay, who was appointed last year.

Ammadi was most recently director of alumni relations and annual giving at the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation in New York City. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, San Diego, an executive Master of Science degree in strategic communication from Columbia, as well as a certificate in jewelry-making and design from Corcoran School of the Arts and Design.

GIA alumni “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 in a statement. “Shahdeh brings unique experience and expertise that will help us enhance, reenvision, and implement programs, resources, and infrastructure to support lifelong learning and success for our wonderful and dedicated GIA graduates.”

Ammadi said in a statement: “I am very excited to bring my experience to GIA and its incredible alumni. 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.”

(Image courtesy of Gemological Institute of America)

Rob Bates

JCK News Director