Founder Carol Hiltner has a 20-year background in citizen diplomacy, working first with Rama Vernon at the Center for Soviet/American Citizen Diplomacy in the ’80s; as a co-founder with Dr. Juliette Engel of MiraMed Institute in the early ’90s (which now works in Russia and internationally on issues of maternal/child health, orphans, and trafficking of women); and as collaborator with Linda Hawkin Israel on the MAMAS program for building critical infrastructure in regions that have been affected by war or natural disaster, focusing in Sierra Leone.

Carol has been in Altai nearly every summer since 1999, seeking sustainable ways to access, support, and share internationally the rich cultural/spiritual heritage in Altai and in Russia as a whole. She has authored numerous articles, published books about Altai/Russian culture/spirituality, and led expeditions to directly experience Altai.

In 2005-6, she initiated an environmental clean-up at sacred Mt. Belukha in collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund - Russia, Altai Republic Mountain Rescue Service, Belukha National Park Service, LenAlps (Vuisotnik Tourist Base), and Russian NGO “Light Center.”

In 2006, Carol initiated Altai Mir University with a “Peace-Mapping Summit” in July, and a fact-finding mission, consisting of several regional stake-holder meetings in collaboration with Global University System, Siberian Academy of Public Administration, and the NCP Siberian Educational-Consulting Center “Connect” in September, with support from Eurasia Foundation and National Peace Foundation. See Carol Hiltner’s CV