The President, Board of Governors, faculty, and staff of Intercultural Open University Foundation (IOUF) are pleased to announce that Bremley W. B. Lyngdoh, PhD and Lisa L. Shaffner, PhD, LPCMH have completed accredited dual PhD degrees through our partnership with the Universidad Azteca and the Universidad Central de Nicaragua. Dr. Lyngdoh’s doctorate is in Sustainable Development and Dr. Shaffner’s doctorate is in Psychology.

Dr. Lyngdoh is a distinguished graduate of IOUF and is involved in helping people build a better life through social, environmental, and economic development.  He is the founder of Worldview Impact (www.worldviewimpact.org/?page_id=75), a social enterprise that is working on mitigating change by creating sustainable livelihoods for the poor.  In addition, he is the director of International Relations for Global Plantations (www.globalplantations.com) that promotes responsible investment opportunities that enhance biodiversity.  Dr. Lyngdoh in 2012 was appointed as a Fellow to IOUF and will represent IOUF at the 2012 Rio Earth Summit in Brazil.

Dr. Shaffner is also a distinguished graduate of IOUF and is involved in the mental health profession as a member of the psychology faculty at Goldey-Beacom College (www.gbc.edu/faculty/shaffner/index.html).  She is a National Board Certified Counselor (NBCC) and a licensed therapist (LPCMH).  Dr. Shaffner is involved in documentary films (www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqoYPuFni2I) and in developing new treatments for adolescents with behavioral problems.  She was appointed as a Resource Scholar to IOUF in 2012 and will advise learners in the dual degree PhD Program with Universidad Azteca and Universidad Central de Nicaragua in the area of humanistic psychology.