CASIE Appoints Suzanna Jemsby as New Executive Director

Atlanta, GA, May 20, 2008 – Center for the Advancement and Study of International Education (CASIE) Board has selected Suzanna Jemsby as its new Executive Director effective January 1, 2009.  Jemsby will replace current Executive Director Alex Horsley who will remain with CASIE as a Senior Consultant. 

"CASIE has grown tremendously as an organization and we wanted an Executive Director who would be a leader, capitalize on our growth and bring new ideas to the table," said Robert Robinson, chairman of the Board of Trustees.  "Suzanna fulfills this criteria in ways beyond our expectations.  She has a wealth of knowledge about language learning and the International Baccalaureate Programmes, as well as the ability to connect with various other international organizations with which CASIE hopes to build strategic partnerships.  Alex Horsley, our departing Executive Director, has led CASIE to a place of stability and has positioned the organization as a leader in the world of international education.  We have achieved tremendous growth under his leadership. We look forward to working with Suzanna to continue this trend and expand CASIE's reach.”

Jemsby is excited for the opportunity to work with CASIE.  She said, “I am extremely honored to follow in the footsteps of Alex Horsley and Monique Seefried [CASIE’s founding Executive Director].  I look forward to continuing my relationship with Atlanta International School teachers by connecting their classroom practices with other educational institutions.   One of my goals is to create the understanding that an international education could and should be accessible to everyone, regardless of background.”

Jemsby joins CASIE after serving for six years as the Head of Upper School at Atlanta International School.  She brings with her in-depth understanding about language learning, as well as the International Baccalaureate Programmes. She has trained administrators and worked with schools across the North American region on the implementation of the IB Diploma Programme.  Jemsby has a Master's degree from Cambridge University, UK, in modern and medieval languages, and teaching and performance diplomas from the London College of Music. She is fluent in English, German and French, and also speaks Italian and Swedish. In addition to her time at AIS, she has served as a language teacher of IB and Advanced Placement courses and as a university counselor at both the Frankfurt International School and the Internationale Schule Frankfurt-Rhein-Main.  She is also a freelance ‘cellist and published author of short stories.

The Center for the Advancement and Study of International Education is a non-profit organization based in Atlanta, Georgia, that promotes international understanding in K-12 schools through education programs, research, discussion, policy planning, and workshops.  CASIE works closely with the International Baccalaureate North America to promote IB Programmes and is an IB North America authorized workshop provider.