Jane M. Robert, President
Saint Louis-Lyon Sister Cities, Inc.

As President of Saint Louis-Lyon Sister Cities, Inc., Jane Robert is leading several educational and cultural exchanges with Lyon. Having completed her sixth year as National President of the Federation of Alliances Françaises, USA, Jane has traveled to France to meet regularly with supporters, elected officials, corporate sponsors and other partners regarding Sister City and Alliances Françaises programs.

Her career path included teaching French at Missouri University in Columbia, Parkway West Senior High in Ballwin, Saint Louis University in St. Louis, and St. Gerard Catholic elementary school in Kirkwood as a volunteer for nine years.

In 1998, the French government recognized Jane’s contributions to France and the French language education by awarding her a Knighthood as Chevalier de l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques.

Jane’s newest projects include education and understanding. The first, “Waging Peace in Our Communities”, began with a US State Department grant. The goal is for eight Sister Cities, including St. Louis and Lyon, to share solutions on successfully integrating disadvantaged and immigrant populations into their communities. The second is participation in the founding of St. Louis Language Immersion School, beginning with French and German languages targeting its opening for Fall, 2009.

Recent awards include: St. Louis City and St. Louis County proclaiming, “Jane Robert Day” on September 21 and October 26 respectively; the World Trade Center – Saint Louis presenting Jane with their “Global Ambassador Award” for increasing national and international visibility for St. Louis; and the Federation of Alliances Françaises, USA, awarding her le Prix Charbonnier for her contributions to the Alliances Françaises, noting particularly the Federation’s Centennial in Paris in 2002.