Laura Descher
Rotary Peace Centers Program Director at Rotary International
- Role
- Rotary Peace Centers Program Director at Rotary International
- Location
- Williamsburg, VA, US
- LinkedIn followers
- 500 followers
About Laura Descher
Laura Descher has over 15 years of experience in international education and development. As the Program Director for the Rotary Peace Centers, she supports partnerships with eight global centers that provide training to 170 fellows in peacebuilding and development each year. Laura earned her master’s degree in International Peace and Conflict Resolution at American University in Washington DC, with a specialization in human rights, and her MBA from Eastern Mennonite University with a focus on ethical leadership. She has worked internationally in France, Egypt, and Thailand, and served as a Community Development Volunteer with the U.S. Peace Corps in Macedonia.
Experience
Rotary Peace Centers Program Director
Jan 2023 — Present
Oversees evaluation and implementation of the Rotary Peace Centers strategic growth plan, including the launch of a MENA-focused peace center in Türkiye in 2025 and an Asia-based peace center in India offering the post-graduate program in 2027.• Supervises a team of seven to operate the Rotary Peace Centers program with eight existing university partners.• Coordinates the program\'s involvement in large-scale programs and events, including collaboration with international organizations and universities in the peacebuilding space.• Leads financial management of TRF funding for the program, including budgeting, forecasting, and donor stewardship activities.
Education
American University
M.A., International Peace and Conflict Resolution
2010 — 2012
Université Stendhal Grenoble 3
Diplôme d’études françaises, B2, French Studies
2007 — 2007
McDaniel College
BA, Political Science, French, Cross-Cultural Studies
2005 — 2009
Eastern Mennonite University
Master of Business Administration - MBA
2019 — 2024
The American University in Cairo
Human Rights Law, Gender and Development
2011 — 2011
Skills
- Public Relations
- Public Policy
- Spanish
- Conflict Resolution
- Strategic Communications
- Spss
- Blogging
- Research
- Policy
- Volunteer Management
- Peacebuilding
- Political Science
- Fundraising
- Program Evaluation
- Foreign Policy
- Intercultural Communication
- Proposal Writing
- International Relations
- Community Organizing
- Program Development
- Community Outreach
- Community Development
- French
- Higher Education
- Politics
- Social Networking
- Powerpoint
- Teaching
- Stata
- Nonprofits
- Public Speaking
- Editing
- Policy Analysis
- Grant Writing
- Leadership
- Event Planning
- Human Rights
- Nonprofit Organizations
- Qualitative Research
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