GIA expands Alumni chapters

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) Alumni Association has officially opened twelve new alumni chapters both nationally and internationally so far this year. Approximately 30 other new chapters, also from the U.S. and around the world, are planning to open by the end of 2008.

This sudden increase is due to changes implemented within the last 12 months from suggestions made by existing GIA alumni. New chapters now exist the following locations:

India
Mumbai
New Delhi
Chennai
Dubai, UAE
Beirut, Lebanon
Athens, Greece
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Denver, Colorado
Gulf Coast, Florida
Louisville, Kentucky
Nashville, Tennessee
Greenville, South Carolina

Linda Ellis Harmeling, vice president and chief advancement officer for GIA, said, we instituted these changes in our alumni program because we wanted to better serve our graduates. We wanted to stay in touch with our alumni and help them further develop their careers with continuing education and networking opportunities.

These changes were made after careful research to take an inventory of the unique needs of our alumni, and working with GIA Education and the Alumni Executive Council. Ellis Harmeling said.

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