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World Learning Names New Senior Vice President of International Development

Brattleboro, VT (MARCH 1, 2007) – World Learning today announced the appointment of Mark Viso to the position of Senior Vice President of International Development, reporting to President and CEO, Carol Bellamy. Viso will oversee the organization’s World Learning for International Development (WLID) division based in Washington, DC.

Viso joins World Learning from World Vision US, where he served since 2003 as Vice President of International Programs Operations. In this role he was responsible for overseeing World Vision's $600 million international program portfolio, with a total of 110 employees in over 50 countries. During his tenure, Mark oversaw significant growth from existing and new funding sources, including the U.S. government, foundations, private-sector entities and individual donors.

"We are thrilled to have Mark on board to lead our international development efforts," said Bellamy. "Mark's experience as a strategic thinker, entrepreneur and successful leader of a large aid organization will help us evolve to address the growing needs and changing landscape of community-driven development."

During his 16-year career in international relief and development, Viso lived and worked in West Bank/Gaza, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Vietnam, where he directed a wide variety of international relief and development projects. Prior to joining World Vision, he also taught at the high school and university levels. Viso holds a degree in International Relations from University of California at Santa Barbara, and spent time studying abroad in Egypt. He served on the Boards of the Coalition for Food Aid and the Millennium Water Alliance.

"I’m very excited to be joining an organization as diverse in its strategies and as committed to the global issues of our times as World Learning is," said Viso.

At World Learning, Viso is responsible for overseeing the DC-based WLID and its portfolio of projects worldwide focused on building local capacities in the areas of civil society and social change, education, HIV/AIDS, and training and exchange. As World Learning celebrates the 75th Anniversary of its founding program this year, Viso completes a newly formed leadership team that blends experience gained in international business, nonprofits, government and higher education to lead the next 75 years of the organization’s global mission.