James D. Standish

James D. Standish was the communications director for the South Pacific Division of Seventh-day Adventists, as well as head of news and editorial for Adventist Record, the official news magazine of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific.[1] James left this role in May 2016 on a leave of absence from denominational employment.[2]

James D. Standish

Early life and career

Born in Australia, Standish has travelled widely and has lived in the UK, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and the US. He holds both Australian and US citizenships.

James' first job was in fifth grade, selling newspapers to motorists at the six-lane intersection of Whitehorse Rd and the Maroonda Highway in Melbourne. At 15, he graduated to teaching English to Laotian refugees in eastern Thailand.

He previously served as the Adventist Church's representative to the US Government in Washington DC, and the United Nations in New York and Geneva. From 2001-2008 and then 2009-2011, he was Director of Legislative Affairs for the Seventh-day Adventist Church World Headquarters.[3] From 2008-2009, he was also executive director for the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.[4]

During this time, he was presented twice at the White House and met President Obama and Vice President Biden. Standish has also met many other world leaders on behalf of the Adventist Church, including President Bush, Senators McCain, Kerry and Clinton, the Governor General of Papua New Guinea, Members of both the British House of Lords and House of Commons and the Prime Minister of Australia.

He has a Juris Doctor degree with honors from Georgetown University (Washington, DC), an MBA from the University of Virginia, and a BBA from Newbold College, England.[5]

Education

Standish earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Georgetown University where he was president of the Georgetown University Church-State Law Forum and an editor of the Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law & Policy.

He earned his MBA at the Darden Graduate School of Business at the University of Virginia where he was news editor of the Darden News.

He also holds a BBA from Newbold College, England, where he was editor of the college newspaper and then served as president of the student association.

Appointments and awards

  • Member of President Obama's Task Force on Interfaith Dialogue & Cooperation, 2009-2010 [6]
  • Secretary of the United Nations NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief, 2010
  • Held a US Diplomatic Passport, 2008-2009
  • Member of the US delegation to the Organization for Security & Cooperation in Europe, Warsaw, 2008
  • Deputy Secretary General of the International Religious Liberty Association, 2009-2011
  • Received the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund civil rights award, 2008
  • Awarded the International Religious Liberty Association's plaque for outstanding service, 2008

Bar memberships

  • Admitted to practice before the US Supreme Court [7]
  • Admitted to practice before the US Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Member of the District of Columbia Bar
  • Member of the Virginia State Bar

Personal life

Standish is married and has two daughters.[8]

Publications

From 2009-2010, Standish wrote a column on the Newsweek/Washington Post's 'On Faith' site.[9]

He has authored numerous articles and reports, including scholarly articles for professional journals such as the American Bar Association's journal and the National Law Journal. [10]

Standish has also written several articles for Liberty magazine.[11]

As editor of RECORD, the official news magazine of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, he wrote regular editorials and features.[12]

See also

References

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