Miriam Rich

Communications Coordinator

Phone: (540) 231-4153
E-mail: mrich@vt.edu

Expertise: Program Management and Communications Specialist

Education: MBA in International Management, The American Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird), Phoenix, Arizona, 1989. Masters of Arts in Teaching, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 1983. Emphasis in French education. B.A., English and French, Goshen College, Goshen, Indiana, 1980.  

Languages: French (proficient), Japanese (conversational), Spanish (conversational)

Countries of work experience: Japan, Benin, Tanzania, Haiti

Experience Summary: Miriam is responsible for communications for the OIRED office, including the design and maintenance of OIRED websites—let her know if you have any suggestions! She also writes articles for, designs, edits and produces publications; assists in the writing of proposals; gives presentations to organizations regarding the work that OIRED does; organizes the World Food Day event at Virginia Tech; and serves on several university committees regarding outreach and international affairs.

Prior to coming to Virginia Tech, Miriam managed the Technical Japanese Program and the Japanese Program for Professionals at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. In that capacity, she directed a promotional campaign for the program, wrote proposals, reports, press releases, newsletter articles and web pages. She oversaw the budget, analyzed financial needs, and produced financial projections. She also hired, trained, and supervised staff. She delivered over a dozen formal presentations annually to major corporations and organizations in the Seattle area (Microsoft, Amazon.com, Boeing, the Seattle Jaycees, Adobe) that resulted in new class sites for the Japanese Program for Professionals.

Before coming to the university setting, Miriam was Manager of International Affairs for the American Public Works Association. In this capacity, she led a group of 24 key Japanese and American public works professionals on an educational tour of American and Japanese cities.

She has also taught high school French for several years and worked in community development for a Native American community in central Louisiana.

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