James Kielsmeier
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James "Jim" Kielsmeier is founder and President/CEO of the National Youth Leadership Council, based in St. Paul, Minnesota. He also founded the Center for Experiential Education and Service-Learning at the University of Minnesota, where he is also an Adjunct Professor. Dr. Kielsmeier helped initiate the nonprofit African Reconciliation and Development Corps International and led their first project in Somalia (1993-94) during the civil war.
[edit] Biography
Since 1983, Dr. Kielsmeier has been engaged in the design and implementation of comprehensive state and federal youth service and service-learning models. He organized the first Minnesota Governor's Task Force on Youth Service and Work in 1986 which led to state legislation and funding in 1987 and 1989 for youth service in Minnesota's schools and colleges. He chaired Gov. Rudy Perpich's Blue Ribbon Committee on Mentoring and Community Service (1987-89) and Gov. Arne Carlson's Advisory Task Force on Mentoring and Community Service (1989-91) and currently co-chairs the service-learning committee of Gov. Jesse Ventura's Minnesota Commission on National and Community Service. Dr Kielsmeier advised the Clinton Administration's transition team on AmeriCorps and has testified on national service and service-learning before the Minnesota House, Senate, and U.S. House of Representatives.
Dr. Kielsmeier received a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Colorado, an M.A. in International Relations from American University in Washington, DC, and a B.S. from Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL. He was an Army Infantry platoon leader and community relations officer in Korea, junior high and high school teacher, Outward Bound instructor, and 30+ years of experience in experiential education, service-learning and national service programs. An author and widely traveled speaker, Dr. Kielsmeier has written numerous articles, co-authored two books and has spoken to groups throughout the United States as well as in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and South America.
[edit] Recognitions
- Kurt Hahn Award of the Association for Experiential Education
- Lifetime Achievement Award of the National Indian Youth Leadership Project
- Rotary Club's Paul Harris Award
- George Norlin Award, the highest alumni recognition of the University of Colorado.
