Cultural Exchange Network (CENET) Senior Director Leslie Corn recently received the McCarry Leadership Award, presented by the Alliance for International Exchange to outstanding young leaders in the international exchange field.

Ms. Corn received the award on October 25 at the Alliance’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

The Alliance Board of Directors established McCarry Leadership Award to recognize emerging leaders in the U.S. exchange community by supporting their participation in the Alliance’s Annual Membership Meeting. The award honors former Alliance Executive Director Michael McCarry for his 21 years of service.
One of four 2017 awardees, Ms. Corn was chosen by an independent selection committee.  Committee members include:

Ann Stock: former Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs
Sherry Mueller: former President, National Council for International Visitors
Max Burns: President, Gordon State College; former Member of Congress (Georgia)
Robert Daly: Director, Kissinger Institute for U.S.-China Relations at the Smithsonian Institution
Robert Coonrod: former President, Corporation for Public Broadcasting

At the Alliance meeting, Sherry Mueller presented Ms. Corn with her award.  In her speech, Sherry commented on Leslie’s application essay, highlighting the following passage:

“The beauty of global citizenship is that it’s not a birthright, but a roll-up-the-sleeves grind. Or, more vividly, as Ray Bradbury compares his career with a drunken bicycle ride, ‘Drunk with life, that is, not knowing where off to next. And the trip? Exactly one-half terror, one-half exhilaration.’ This field is an ever-changing journey, and I gratefully pedal on into programs that inspire a safer, more compassionate world.”

CENET Executive Director Robyn Walker said, “I have had the pleasure of working with Leslie Corn for the past 7 years.  It’s her roll-up-the-sleeves work ethic that inspires me most.’

Cultural Exchange Network, a nonprofit based in Cape Girardeau, Missouri partners with the Department of State to administer official exchange programs, provides affordable study abroad opportunities for American and international university students, and provides international content and curriculum for students and schools in the Cape Girardeau area.

CENET strives to inspire a safer, more prosperous and compassionate world through international education and cultural exploration. For more news and updates about CENET, please visit our Facebook Page.