Dr. Juan R. Avila, Ph.D. is the High Steward of EUCLID, an intergovernmental institution under United Nations Treaty Series 49006/7. A distinguished academic and diplomat, he holds the rank of Ambassador at the Permanent Mission of the Dominican Republic to the United Nations since 2004. Based in New York City, Ambassador Avila has spent the past three decades working in a variety of capacities with the United Nations, numerous non-governmental organizations, and the Government of the Dominican Republic. Since January 2016, he is the Vice Chair of the Institute of Global Affairs (IGA). He is a recognized authority in comparative and international education issues related to youth; international migration and reverse transfer of technology; promotion of technical cooperation among developing countries; special environment and development projects; educational and institutional research; fund-raising strategies; and administration, strategic planning and management of non-governmental organizations. He has participated in international conferences on economic and social reform, human rights, environmental programming, and labor organization. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy from Fordham University.