Tawfic Farah has been appointed to fill the new role of Vice President of International Operations at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), effective June 1. He will report directly to the president of GIA, Donna Baker.Farah will be in charge of all of GIA`s international activities. Seung-Hae Moon, director of Global Education, as well as all directors or GIA`s international locations will report to Farah on matters of planning and operations. GIA Education and GIA Laboratory will be responsible for all gemological matters.Farah has served as executive director for diamonds and colored stones for the Dubai Multi-Commodities Commission (DMCC) since June 2004.Duncan Pay, currently director of Course Development, will fill another new position at GIA, Chief Academic Officer, which will be effective January 1. He will assume the responsibilities of the vice president of Education, Brook Ellis.Ellis is due to retire in June 2009. Until then, he will fill a new role at GIA as Executive Advisor to help with transitional issues.