Feature Stories
Dixie Anderson, '72 & '78
Since 1995, Dixie Anderson, ’72 and ’78, has served as executive
director of the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan. The
organization is a part of a nation-wide effort to educate people about
American foreign policy and international issues. Because of her
success and recognition with the organization, she is often asked to
mentor executive directors around the country. It also helped to bring
South Africa’s Archbishop Tutu to Grand Rapids in 2003.
Anderson was one of 100 Americans chosen to observe the Taiwanese
Presidential election in 2004. The same year, she earned a special
honor from the Foreign Policy Association for her part in the Great
Decisions Foreign Policy lecture series. During her time with World
Affairs, she has quadrupled the size of the organization and lead it
to become one of the leading international organizations in West
Michigan.
As one of the first women to graduate from the
Siedman College of Business, MBA program, Anderson was inducted into
the Business Honor Society. She also earned her B.S. in social studies
with a minor in art history from Grand Valley. Along with Michael
Ammann, Anderson started the Siedman Graduate School Alumni group and
co-chaired for the first two years of the GVSU Alumni Art Auction.
Anderson currently resides in Grand Rapids.
Share this spotlight
Return to the listing of feature stories.