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In addition to her position as Program Officer, Myra Best serves as Director of Group Projects in the Professional Exchanges Division. As a Program Officer, Dr. Best designs International Visitor Leadership Programs on a number of topics, including human rights, religious issues, rule of law, economic development, youth leadership, and civic activism. In her capacity as Director of Group Projects, she oversees development and implementation of regional and multi-regional projects, and serves as a liaison with the State Department on matters relating to these programs. Dr. Best, who holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University, lived in Taiwan as a language student, and in Italy, where she enrolled at the Università degli Studi in Florence and later taught Italian language and literature at Trinity College’s Rome campus. While in Italy, Dr. Best also directed a continuing education program in the humanities and coordinated volunteer services at refugee centers in Florence and Rome. After returning to the United States in 1998, Dr. Best coordinated classes for the Smithsonian Associates Program. She joined Meridian’s staff in January, 2000.