Kambiz "Kamy” Akhavan has served as Managing Editor of ProCon.org since December 7, 2004 and as President of ProCon.org since Dec. 7, 2010. Kamy has nearly 20 years of experience in making serious educational content entertaining, accessible, and affordable. His work has been published in textbooks, magazines, newspapers, and websites across the US.  He has been interviewed by Reuters, Associated Press, Fox News, ABC, and several TV stations, and radio affiliates of NPR, CNN, and CBS.  Kamy was born in Iran, grew up in southern Louisiana, and has lived in California for over 20 years. He holds a BA and MA in History from UCLA. He loves music, politics, surfing, running, his wife, his son, and ProCon.org.

1. EDUCATION

• Earned a Master’s degree from UCLA in 1998 with summa cum laude distinctions for study in European History.
  
  
• Graduated magna cum laude from UCLA in 1994 with a B.A. in Modern Intellectual History of Europe and College Honor’s distinctions. Became a member of the Golden Key Honor Society and was awarded a lifetime membership in Phi Beta Kappa for academic achievement.
  
  
• Has taken non-degree courses in journalism, nonprofit management, and fundraising (UCLA) as well as political science and speech (Stanford University).

2. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• Worked as a writer, researcher, proofreader, and image licensor for an educational multimedia company.
  
  
• Received seven publication credits for the Authorworks high school textbooks and CD-ROMs which were created in conjunction with the Library of Congress and Scott Foresman publishers.
  
  
• Received three publication credits for work on an educational map project with Rand McNally.
  
  
• Worked in the L.A. film industry for several years in the acquisition, distribution, and marketing of foreign language and American independent films. Some of his releases included My Favorite Season (France; starring Catherine Deneuve and Daniel Auteuil), Blue Juice (U.K.; featuring Catherine Zeta Jones), God Is My Witness (Bollywood hit starring Amitabh Bachham and Sridevi), and The Stranger (India; directed by legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray) among others.
  
  
• Served as Chief Editor of the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership Clearinghouse on Entrepreneurship Education (CELCEE) for over three years.
  
  
• Coordinated marketing campaigns and newsletter production/distribution for dozens of internet casinos.
  
  
• Worked in management at the Southern California branch of McMaster-Carr, a high-volume industrial supply company.
  
  
• Published articles on diverse topics including "Marinol vs. Marijuana: Politics, Science, and Popular Culture,” "Business Ethics,” and various cultural events and attractions in Los Angeles.
  
  
• Has been interviewed by Associated Press, Reuters, ABC, radio affiliates for NPR, CNN, CBS, and Fox News, as well as numerous other newspapers, magazines, and TV stations, on topics ranging from medical marijuana and milk to euthanasia and insider trading.

   

3. PERSONAL STUFF

• Volunteers for the annual Visions of Unity contest, Heal the Bay, Save Historic Old Torrance, and several other local charities.

• Kamy is proficient in the English, French, and Persian (Farsi) languages. He has basic familiarity with German and Spanish.