Maia Mikashavidze, Ph.D. is a professor of media and communication at the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA), also heads the branch office at Internews and directs its media support projects in Georgia. She founded GIPA’s Caucasus School of Journalism and Media Management in Tbilisi, Georgia, in 2001 and served as its dean until 2011. Prior to 2000, Mikashavidze served as a press and information assistant in the Public Affairs section at the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi, where she was involved in media development projects. She has provided expert media consulting services to the U.S. government, the European Union, the Council of Europe, OSCE, Freedom House, and other international and local organizations. She holds a Ph.D. in mass communication from the University of South Carolina, a master’s degree in Public Administration from the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs, and a specialist diploma from Tbilisi State Conservatoire.