Ms Hren is American, and has a BSc. in Biology and Psychology from Hiram College, Ohio, and a Masters from Hood College in Maryland. She is a seasoned educationalist with more than 15 years teaching experience in High and Middle Schools on both sides of the Atlantic. She has also spent 10 years as a school administrator - first at an independent school in Washington DC, and then at ACS Cobham International School in England - before relocating to Doha last summer.

Commenting on her promotion, ACS Managing Director, Charles Freer, said, "Diane has been instrumental in establishing our Doha campus and its overall management, ensuring the best education practices and strategic developments have been implemented. Her knowledge and vision are an inspiration to us all."

Ms. Hren's energy and passion for creating innovative and engaging learning experiences for students have earned her much recognition, including from the Lockheed Martin Graduate Fellows Program, as an innovative educator. She has also worked as a freelance curriculum writer and consultant, and is a published author of several works on environmental education.

Diane says she is honoured and grateful to be following in the footsteps of an exceptional leader in Tom Lehman. "Tom has laid the foundation for a strategic educational framework that will guide our outstanding faculty, and together we will continue to grow and develop the programme," she says. "I am committed to carrying on this mission to create an exceptional educational environment to serve the
needs of our ACS community."

Diane is a strong advocate of education both inside and outside the classroom, and she has led natural history and cultural trips to cities throughout Africa, Australia, Central America and Europe.

"Great schools are great because they share a common goal that is focused on the child," she says, "and ACS Doha is no exception. Our community works together in a positive and proactive way. We are passionate about what we do, and we are constantly striving to learn in order to improve."