|
By Laura Simanton
|
Duncan Pay
Photo by Melissa Jacobs/GIA
|
|
GIA recently appointed Duncan Pay, director of Course Development, to the newly created position of chief academic officer, effective Jan. 1, 2008.
Pay will assume the responsibilities of Brook Ellis, vice president of Education, who will retire from GIA at the end of the year. Ellis served as a GIA governor from 1983 to 1995, and joined the Institute as vice president of Operations; he became vice president of Education in 1996.
Pay brought an educational background in geology and 15 years of industry experience in retailing, wholesale buying and course development when he joined GIA in 1998. He has served as director of Course Development since 2001, when he was recognized as a Staff Member of the Year, and has been a principal architect of GIA's new-generation education program.
Ellis plans to step down from his position on Dec. 31 to take on a new role as executive advisor to assist with transitional issues until his full retirement in June 2009.
GIA opened new schools in London, Moscow, Los Angeles, China and India, thereby expanding GIA's global presence to 14 schools in 11 countries, during Ellis' tenure. He also supervised the introduction of the Accredited Jewelry Professional (A.J.P.) diploma, the Applied Jewelry Arts (A.J.A.) diploma, the Jewelry Business Management (J.B.M.) diploma, and the Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) degree offered by the GIA School of Business, which he established.
|
Brook Ellis
Photo by Melissa Jacobs/GIA
|
|
Ellis' career began in 1959 with Henry Birks & Sons, Ltd., one of Canada's largest fine jewelry chains, where he ultimately filled the role of vice president of Fine Jewelry. He is a past director of the American Gem Society and past president of Jewellers Vigilance Canada, Inc.
Ellis received the American Gem Society's Certified Gemologist designation in 1964. He was elected to the Distance Education and Training Council's (DETC) Board of Trustees in 2000, elected second vice president in 2001 and to its Accrediting Commission in 2002. Ellis also served as DETC treasurer and was recently honored with its Distinguished Service Award (see page 31).
"I congratulate Duncan on his new position," said GIA President Donna Baker. "I also thank Brook for the excellent job he has done in developing the quality, versatility and depth of the gemological and business education available at GIA, as well as expanding its global reach."
|
