College for World Connections
Empowering leaders through faith-based education, intercultural collaboration, and transformative learning experiences.
We Are Enthusiastic Cultivators of the Extraordinary in Every Human Being
World Connections Foundation (WCF) is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to improving lives through education, leadership instruction, creative and critical thinking development, and expanded learning opportunities.
We believe education and healing are inseparable — that an imaginative mindset is transformative, personal empowerment means living the life you imagined, and great leadership is a catalyst for change. Every person carries within them unlimited promise.
Faith-Based Education and Leadership Training is at the heart of what we do. In today's complex cultural landscape, nonprofit Christian leadership training equips faith educators and leaders to engage culture thoughtfully while remaining biblically grounded.
Thought Leadership
Integrating neuroscience, positive psychology, and emotional intelligence
Global Reach
Serving learners nationally and internationally across cultures
501(c)(3) Nonprofit
All donations are tax deductible — education for everyone
Reaching Across All Borders
College for World Connections and World Connections Foundation advance education and leadership, empowering and connecting individuals, leadership ambassadors, researchers, educational professionals, learners and volunteers.
Innovation as Empowerment
Using the latest science and technology to advance research and development in education tools, particularly for women and underserved communities.
Expanding Opportunities
Cultivating promising future leaders, especially young women and girls of racially diverse backgrounds and low-income communities.
Excellence in Teaching
Combining wisdom with modern science, implementing innovative methods and promising new curriculums in leadership, career preparation, and micro businesses.
Education and Creativity Are the Cornerstones of Self-Reliance
We promote a revolutionary learning platform that elevates human imagination, ingenuity, critical thinking and thought leadership — preparing the next generation for the 21st century and beyond.
The Extraordinary in Every Life
We treasure the inherent gifts in every human being — expressing cultural diversity and inclusion, integrity, honesty, and responsible stewardship.
The Partnerships of Others
Our greatest ambitions can only be accomplished by working together. Collaboration with affiliates, educators, and sponsors is the fuel to our powerful engine.
The Power of Results
We focus on measurable results that transform lives from marginalization to empowerment, encouraging us to innovate with enthusiasm and teach with passion.
Self-Expression and Fulfillment
We inspire character consistent with ethical accountability and foster connectedness to achieve possibilities for self-expression and role model emergence.
Education Excellence and Innovation
We direct the transformative powers of neuroscience, positive psychology, emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and thought leadership to advance cultural capital worldwide.
Intercultural Dialogue
An international learning platform broadens experience and prepares learners for a global economic world — sharing intercultural dialogue that is respectful and honoring.
A Diverse Community of Learners
Our focus ensures every individual has the opportunity to learn skills and acquire knowledge with marketable merit and personal empowerment value.
College for World Connections Leadership Team
We are educators, strategists, coaches, collaborators, creators, authors, and imagineers — forging a path toward bold and innovative new paradigms in higher education and leadership.
Dr. Susan Taffer
Founder & President, College for World Connections
Ex Officio, World Connections Foundation
An American business and social entrepreneur, Transition Strategist, Global Educator, and Humanitarian. Dr. Taffer is an Intercultural Ambassador and principal founder of World Connections Foundation. A recognized national and global educator and authority on thought leadership, she has served as an advisor to educators, learning institutions, corporations, and students around the globe for more than 25 years. She is a Doctoral Chair and Professor with Grand Canyon University and a Doctoral Consultant for Acacia University's International Educators Graduate College.
Jane Applegath
Executive Director, World Connections Foundation
A Certified VUCA Instructor, Founder of the global podcast Epic Vision Zone, and former award-winning financial advisor, television producer, creative scriptwriter, and yoga instructor. Jane's work centers around one core message: Talk that Transforms — because the right words at the right time can change everything.
Dr. Cynthia Thiede
Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives
An innovative leader with over 25 years of senior executive experience in organizational leadership, strategic planning, and new program development. A recognized authority and educator in nonprofit organizations, Dr. Thiede holds a Ph.D. in Continuing and Vocational Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Glenda Lambert
Director of International Relations
A native of Suriname living in the US since 1989, Glenda has been an English as a Second Language teacher at Tempe Schools and Gateway Community College since 2004, bringing deep intercultural perspective to the CWC mission.
Debra S. Robinson
Director of Global Development
An expert problem solver with over 15 years of experience in small business management, health care, higher education, and health and productivity management. Debra's core gift is seeing a vision to completion, demonstrated through leadership roles with Fortune 500 companies and as past President of Alta Home Care of Arizona.
Glenda Nieman, M.Ed.
Director of Research & Development
A 30-year veteran of the Chandler Unified School District and 29-year consultant and presenter for profit and nonprofit organizations. Glenda has authored two instructional manuals for support group facilitation and co-authored three additional manuals for parenting, children with incarcerated parents, and crisis response for educators.
Ingrid Trott, M.Ed.
Director of Professional Development Programs
A higher-education professional who has been teaching and consulting for national and international private and public institutions since the 1980s. Ingrid promotes and advocates for women's and educational leadership development, designing courses that instruct skills for success and life-track goals.
Lori Severson
Director of Human Enrichment and Outreach
A coach for professional women and 20-year veteran of big business, Lori guides professional women to align with their own values and ways of leading. By reconnecting world-changing women to their innate intelligence and unlocking powerful communication, she helps clients increase their effectiveness and impact.
Ready to Be Part of Something Extraordinary?
Join the College for World Connections community and discover the leader you were created to be.