Baltimore, M.D. – Douglas Becker, one of Baltimore’s top business leaders and a global entrepreneur in the field of education, has been named Chairman of the Board of the International Youth Foundation. Mr. Becker, who joined the IYF Board in 2003 and recently served as its Vice Chair, is Chairman and CEO of Laureate Education Inc., a leading provider of higher education services worldwide.

“IYF is fortunate to elect a man who has dedicated his business life to broadening the education and life building experiences for young people in the United States and around the world,” said William S. Reese, President and CEO of the International Youth Foundation. “Doug brings that same intensity, entrepreneurial flare, and commitment to expanding opportunities among today’s youth to his civic and philanthropic activities.”

The International Youth Foundation is a global non-profit organization uniquely dedicated to preparing young people to be healthy, productive, and engaged citizens. Founded in 1990 and based in Baltimore, Maryland, IYF’s worldwide network of partner organizations has grown to 70 countries, helping young people to shape their futures through proven programs that tie education to work, improve employability, and enable and inspire them to play a positive role in their communities. IYF collaborates with businesses, governments and civil society organizations to build effective and sustainable programs, raising more than US$250 million in resources to expand opportunities for young people worldwide.

Before his leadership of Laureate Education Inc., Mr. Becker transformed its predecessor, Sylvan Learning Systems, from a small tutoring firm into a dynamic global company. A committed philanthropist, he established the Sylvan Learning Foundation in 1997 to support education initiatives in Baltimore and across the United States. Mr. Becker is also the founder and Chairman of Port Discovery, the Baltimore Children’s Museum, and serves as trustee or director of numerous educational organizations.

In addition to his service on the IYF Board, Mr. Becker has supported the expansion of YouthActionNet™, IYF’s program that works to identify, train and support exceptional youth social activists and entrepreneurs. With funding from the Sylvan Laureate Foundation, the first YouthActionNet™ institute was launched in Mexico, with similar programs being developed in 2007 in Brazil and Turkey. “YouthActionNet™ strongly matches our company’s mission and core beliefs,” says Mr. Becker, “and the Laureate International Universities Network provides an ideal platform to adapt this program at the country level.”

Mr. Becker’s predecessor as Board Chair was Sir David Bell, Chair of the Financial Times Group. The IYF Board is made up of an internationally diverse group of business, government and civil society leaders who are deeply committed to addressing the challenges facing today’s young people. Current IYF Board members:

• Douglas L. Becker, Chair, (United States), Chairman and CEO of Laureate Education Inc.
• Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah (Jordan), Founder, Jordan River Foundation
• Sari M. Baldauf (Finland), Vice Chair of Board of SanomaWSOY Corp., former Executive Vice President and General Manager of Networks at Nokia
• Sir David Bell, (United Kingdom), Chair of Financial Times Group and Chairman of Pearson Inc.
• Maria Livanos Cattaui (Switzerland) Former Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce and Board Chair of Open Society Institute
• Enrique V. Iglesias (Uruguay-Spain), Secretary-General of the Ibero-American Secretariat and former President of the Inter-American Development Bank
• Rick R. Little (United States), CEO of the ImagineNations Group and founder and former President of IYF
• Helio Mattar (Brazil), President of Akatu Institute for Conscientious Consumption, Founder of Ethos Institute for Business and Social Responsibility
• Penina Mlama (Tanzania) Executive Director of the Forum of African Women Educationalists (FAWE)
• William S. Reese (United States), President and CEO of IYF, former President and CEO of Partners of the Americas
• Benita Singh (United States), Founder, Mercado Global and Vice President of Marketing, League of Artisans
• Adam Smith (Australia), CEO of Education Foundation Australia, Australian Ambassador for children and youth at the UN General Assembly
• Peter Woicke (United States) Former Managing Director of World Bank and CEO of the International Finance Corporation
• Richard Schubert (Chairman Emeritus) (United States), Vice President of Leader to Leader Institute and former President of Bethlehem Steel Company