Michael Simsik Inducted into Worldwide Who's Who for Excellence in International Development

    WASHINGTON, July 24, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Michael Simsik, Chief of Operations for the Africa Region of the Peace Corps, has been recognized by Worldwide Who's Who for showing dedication, leadership and excellence in international development.

Dr. Simsik, who has nearly two decades of experience in international development, has been the chief of operations of the Africa Region for the Peace Corps for the past year. The organization, which was founded by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, currently maintains programs in 76 countries. Since its founding, the Peace Corps has sent more than 200,000 Americans to aid in the development of 139 countries. In his leadership role with the organization, Dr. Simsik oversees all operational duties for the African region, including improving processes and procedures for personnel and program management, volunteer support and monitoring and measuring program impacts.

Prior to assuming his current role with the Peace Corps, Dr. Simsik held several other key positions within the organization, including serving as the country director for Mali operations, the Mali programming director and associate director in Madagascar. Previously, he served as the urban agriculture program leader at the Cornell University Cooperative Extension. During his long career, Dr. Simsik has earned a reputation for being a dedicated, results-oriented operations executive with expertise in natural resource management, food security and international development.

Dr. Simsik, who joined the Peace Corps due to a lifelong interest in working with other cultures, attributes his success to his natural leadership ability and his understanding of different cultures. Over the next five years, he would like to transition into a regional management position within the African region.

Dr. Simsik seeks to apply his management and technical skills to assist organizations with a mission to improve the lives and well-being of others in developing countries through education, the eradication of poverty and the establishment of sustainable environmental management. He is particularly interested in work that builds on his various strengths and experiences in program management and coordination, as well as strategic planning, in a number of development sectors.

Dr. Simsik aspires to fill a role where he can apply his leadership skills in managing and inspiring professionalism and camaraderie in diverse work teams. He is also interested in working in an environment where he can utilize his proven success working in cross-cultural contexts, as well as his fluency in French, to build the capacity of foster work staff. He also hopes for the opportunity to apply his knowledge of USG systems, as well as representational experience, to further the mission of an organization.

Dr. Simsik holds a bachelor's degree in forest management from the University of California, Berkeley, a master's degree in forestry from the University of Michigan and an Ed.D. in education policy, research and administration from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. The recipient of numerous awards and honors for his academic and professional achievements, he enjoys traveling, skiing and playing tennis during his free time.

For more information about the Peace Corps, visit http://www.peacecorps.gov.

About Worldwide Who's Who
With over 500,000 members representing every major industry, Worldwide Who's Who is a powerful networking resource that enables professionals to outshine their competition, in part through effective branding and marketing. Worldwide Who's Who employs similar public relations techniques to those utilized by Fortune 500 companies, making them cost-effective for members who seek to take advantage of its career enhancement and business advancement services.

Worldwide Who's Who membership provides individuals with a valuable third-party endorsement of their accomplishments, and gives them the tools needed to brand themselves and their businesses effectively. In addition to publishing biographies in print and electronic form, it offers an online networking platform where members can establish new professional relationships.

For more information, please visit http://www.worldwidewhoswho.com.

Contact:
Ellen Campbell
Director, Media Relations
[email protected]

# # #