Barbara Ferris' Biography

Barbara Anne Ferris is the founder and president
of the International Women’s Democracy Center (IWDC),
which was established to ensure that women worldwide have
the necessary tools and skills to participate in politics,
policy and decision making within their own democracies. IWDC
works in partnership with local NGOs to provide training,
education, technical assistance and research/analysis in campaign
management, leadership, advocacy and technology to women leaders
around the world with a focus on increasing their participation
in the politics, policy and decision making within their own
governments. IWDC has offices in Ohio, Botswana, Northern
Ireland, and Tajikistan.
In 2006, Barbara Anne Ferris was a Democratic Candidate for
Congress in Ohio’s 10th Congressional District, where
the Cleveland Plain Dealer withdrew their long time endorsement
of the incumbent and endorsed Ms. Ferris “as the candidate
more in tune with the community, its and its future who has
put forth an attainable plan of using the district’s
remaining resources to help it return to economic health.”
Prior to establishing IWDC, Ms. Ferris served as the Women
in Development Director for Peace Corps for five years where
she designed, managed, monitored and evaluated 400 economic
development, agricultural, micro credit, health and environmental
programs in over 90 countries.

IWDC Founder and President Barbara Ferris
pictured here with Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts at
IWDC's Global Democracy
Award Honoring Ambassador Elizabeth Bagley in
2005.
Ms. Ferris served as the advisor to the U.S. Delegation to
the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women for three
years. She has consulted in public policy, management, education,
community development, program design and evaluation throughout
Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East where she
also designed financial management models for the public sector.
In 1980, Ms. Ferris served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in
Morocco working in education and primary health care. Prior
to her Volunteer service, she worked as a legislative assistant
to a member of congress where, at the request of the Speaker
of the House, she was a member of a fact-finding mission to
Syria, Lebanon and Israel. Before her service on Capitol Hill,
she worked for the World Bank and for the Ohio Youth Commission
as an activity therapist.
Ms. Ferris has addressed universities, colleges, civic organizations
and appeared on numerous radio and television programs worldwide
providing information, resources and expertise on how governments,
organizations and communities can ensure that women are equal
partners in the economic, social and political development
of their own countries. She is a member of the International
Women’s Forum. Ms. Ferris serves on the board of directors
to numerous international non-profit organizations that focus
on finance, economic development, and improving the quality
of life for women and their families. Her career has taken
her to over 100 countries around the world. She has crossed
the Sahara Desert, trekked in the Atlas, Andes and Himalayas
and completed a polar expedition in Antarctica last November.
She is co-founder of The Peace Corps Fund, founder of Friends
of NASA, founding President of Gilda’s Club Greater
Washington, served as Chair of the 40th Anniversary Celebration
of the Peace Corps, Chair of the Board of Ashley’s Hope,
Volunteer Resource Coordinator at Marion Seltzer School, and
comes from Ferris Steakhouse, the oldest family owned restaurant
in Cleveland, Ohio.
Ms. Ferris holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from
Ohio State University and a Master’s degree in Public
Administration from the American University.
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