NEW YORK, Dec. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Maximum Educational Opportunities, Inc. (g-MEO), an emerging growth company in international education and an innovator of study abroad programs in China, announced today that Michael S. Bassis, President Emeritus of Westminster College, would be joining its International Advisory Board. Dr. Bassis joins a board of four other distinguished members from the field of international higher education.

Dr. Bassis joins g-MEO's International Advisory Board with over 40 years of experience in higher education, which includes positions as professor, scholar and administrator. He earned his undergraduate degree from Brown University and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. He began his career as a faculty member in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Rhode Island. Prior to his career at Westminster, Dr. Bassis served as Executive Vice President and University Provost at Antioch University, CEO of New College of Florida and President of Olivet College in Michigan.

"We are most honored to have Michael join our International Advisory Board. His expertise in international and higher education administration is likely to provide invaluable contributions for g-MEO's continued ventures in innovative study abroad programs in China," remarked Dr. David C. Chang, g-MEO's Chairman of the Board. When asked about the g-MEO's approach to study abroad programs, Dr. Bassis said, "Studying abroad in China can be an immensely valuable learning experience for American undergraduates. But finding a program that doesn't require prior knowledge of Mandarin and that serves the interests of students in all majors has been exceedingly difficult. g-MEO has developed high quality programs that overcome those shortcomings. I'm excited about the opportunity to help them expand their capacity to serve many more students."

Prior to his career at Westminster College, Dr. Bassis led the successful effort to move New College of Florida to its current status as an independent institution within the State University System. As President of Olivet College in Michigan from 1993-1998, his efforts to revitalize that institution won him wide recognition. His work at Olivet was chronicled by Stephen R. Covey in his book, Living the Seven Habits.

Dr. Bassis has also served on advisory boards and project teams with numerous foundations and professional associations, including the American Council on Education, the Association of American Colleges and Universities, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Campus Compact, The New American Colleges and Universities, and the Project on the Future of Higher Education.

g-MEO's International Advisory Board's other members include Dr. David A. Caputo, President Emeritus, Pace University; Dr. Daniel E. Davidson, President of American Councils for International Education, and Professor of Russian and Second Language Acquisition at Bryn Mawr College; Ms. Carola McGiffert, Director of the 100,000 Strong Foundation which was incubated as the 100,000 Strong Initiative for two years under the auspices of the U.S. State Department; and Dr. Rose Tseng, Chancellor Emerita and Professor at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

About Global Maximum Educational Opportunities, Inc.
Co-founded in 2011 by Dr. David C. Chang, Chancellor, Professor and former President of Polytechnic Institute of New York University, g-MEO is a corporation formed for the purpose of providing innovative study abroad programs in China for U.S. undergraduates.  Through its partnerships with U.S. "home institutions" and Chinese "host institutions", g-MEO's programs offer students unique opportunities to take undergraduate courses in English with credits fully transferrable to their home institution degree programs, with the study-abroad experience enhanced by local internships and other experiential learning programs. 

For further information visit www.gmeochina.com.

Media Contact
Stephanie Szitanyi
Director, Outreach & College Relations
(212) 785-0812
media@g-meo.com

SOURCE Global Maximum Educational Opportunities, Inc.