Since August 2001, Jim Falk has been the president and CEO of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth, a nonprofit, non-partisan educational organization dedicated to creating a more informed citizenry on matters of national and international significance and to enhancing the Metroplex as an international region. In 2003, the World Affairs Council founded Dallas Protocol, a partnership with the City of Dallas, which is responsible for coordinating the city’s international outreach, including relations with the Diplomatic Corps and supporting the Mayor and City Council. He is the moderator of the Global IQ with The Economist, the Council’s monthly webcast.

In 1977, Jim earned a BA degree in Political Science from Washington and Lee University; in 1983, he received a MA in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia in international law and organization and Middle Eastern studies. He has a French Baccalaureate from the Academy of Grenoble in France. He is fluent in French and has studied Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic.

From 1992 to 1999, Jim was director/Southern Region of the Institute of International Education in Houston. Prior to joining the World Affairs Council, he was vice president of development at the National Center for Policy Analysis. Early in his career, he was director of education and media outreach at the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C. and worked for ten years as a commercial banker in Houston, TX (First City Texas).

He serves on the board and is president-elect of the Dallas chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). He is an advisory director of the Asia Society and serves on the University of North Texas’ International Advisory Board. He is a member of the Dallas Committee on Foreign Relations and a past board member of the World Affairs Councils of America. Jim is also adjunct professor of international relations at the University of North Texas.

Jim is married to Terrell Falk, who is president of the Old Red Museum. They have two adult children, Todd and Ashleigh. He and his Vizsla compete regularly in dog agility trials.

9/15/09

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Photo Credit: Dallas Business Journal