J’Lein Liese, Ph.D.
An international expert in youth and community development issues, especially
in post-conflict and developing countries, Dr. Liese has worked extensively throughout
Africa, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
Recent career highlights include: In 2004, Dr. Liese worked with the U.S. State Department’s Middle East Partnership Initiative in Bahrain to prevent and develop systems to intervene against human trafficking as well as consulted with the Bahrain Women’s Society to help launch the first anti-child abuse program in the Persian Gulf. In 2003, Dr. Liese worked with the Council on Scientific and Industrial Research in South Africa as the lead curriculum designer and trainer for a nation-wide effort to prepare the South African Police Service for their role in the new Child Justice Act. Publications include chapter contributions to “Confronting Islamophobia in Educational Practice,” and “Child and Youth Misbehavior in South Africa.”
In 2002, Dr. Liese founded the Foundation for Global Leadership to provide American business leaders an opportunity to visit and learn first-hand the strengths and challenges of emerging democracies. The trips not only open Americans’ eyes to the “behind the scenes” of developing countries, but have also served to bring financial support and technical assistance to non-governmental organizations doing exceptional work on behalf of women, children and families.
Prior to working internationally, Dr. Liese designed and implemented violence prevention and intervention programs for troubled youth for schools and juvenile correctional facilities. In 1999, MTV and the American Psychological Association featured Dr. Liese’s work on the award winning documentary, “Warning Signs.”
Currently, Dr. Liese lives in Phoenix, Arizona and serves on the board of directors of Business Women’s Initiative Against HIV/AIDS and as a member of Charter 100, the Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations, Valley Leadership, World Association of Non-Governmental Organizations and Americans for UNFPA.