President & Co-Founder
Eric James Graham Putzig
With 25 years outside the United States in 13 different countries, typically as manager of US Government development projects, Mr. Putzig has extensive experience in the field of legal institutions development, curriculum development, and training.
He was Director of Teacher Training in Cambodia for the development of a new law school and authored several textbooks for that project. He developed legislative centers at eight universities in Indonesia and trained eight corresponding provincial parliaments there. Thereafter he trained the National Parliament of East Timor on legislative drafting techniques. In Jordan he developed (and provided training on) legal research and writing courses for universities. In Iraq he trained the newly elected Governors' Offices and Provincial Parliaments, and in Afghanistan he oversaw the training of thousands of judges and members of the Ministry of Justice, as well as the education of hundreds of thousands of people (using print media, town meetings, theater, radio, and television) on basic democratic principles and human rights.
Education: Choate, Connecticut; Bard College (BA), New York; Harvard University International Honors Program (full scholar), Asia; Georgetown Law (JD), Washington DC.
Dean Anton Demchuk
Anton Demchuk has been serving as the Dean of the Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University (VNU) Law Faculty since 2019. Having quickly risen up the ranks in Ukrainian academia, as one of Ukraine’s youngest deans he has steered the VNU Law Faculty into its renaissance. In the five years as Dean he has: Increased bachelor degree enrollment by 62%; worked with the national government to increase the VNU law faculty’s licensed student body by 25%; Increased enrollment in Masters programs by an astounding 144%; More thandoubled the number of doctors and professors working at the law faculty.
He also oversaw the creation of three new laboratories: mediation and restorative justice, digital technologies in law, and polygraphy and forensic examinations. In 2023, a new specialty "Law Enforcement" program was opened under the auspices of the VNU law faculty, with 60 students already enrolled. He has also helped organize and/or participated in a number of democratic-themed international conferences in Sweden and Poland.
Education: Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University (LLB, LLM), Lutsk, Ukraine. Ivan Franko National University of Lviv (PhD), Lviv, Ukraine.
Senior Consultant & Co-Founder
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Vice President
Kristin McCrae
Kristin McCrae, a U.S. Army veteran who served from 1990 to 2000, is an accomplished leader with extensive experience in democracy, governance, and conflict mitigation programming. Her career spans work with the United States Government across diverse and challenging environments, including Washington, D.C., Sri Lanka, Liberia, Florida, and South Sudan. Known for her expertise in managing initiatives in crisis and post-conflict settings, she has consistently delivered impactful results.
As Deputy Director of the Office of Democracy and Governance in Afghanistan, she played a pivotal role in supporting democratic institutions during a critical period. Later, as Director of the Office of Democracy, Rights, and Governance in Bangladesh, she oversaw efforts to strengthen human rights and democratic systems. Her leadership in these roles included managing complex programs and fostering partnerships to promote stability and governance. Kristin’s international experience and dedication to democratic values make her a key contributor to BUD.
Education: Primary Leadership Development Course, Commandant’s List (honors), Ft. Riley, Kansas; Portland State University (BA), Oregon; School for International Training (MA), Vermont.
Gwen Pier
Gwen Pier is Executive Director of one America's oldest nonprofits, the National Sculpture Society (founded in 1893). NSS programs include exhibitions, publications, conferences, scholarships, grants, competitions, and educational events (lectures, tours, and panel discussions) that support sculptors and sculpture.
Ms. Pier has worked in the arts for over thirty-five years, both in the commercial gallery and non-profit arenas. She is currently an officer on the board of the Fine Arts Federation of New York and a member of the Saltus Medal Award Committee. She has served as a mentor to girls in public high schools through a program sponsored by the NYC Department of Education; served on the Great Women’s Sculpture Initiative Roundtable in 2018, hosted by the Metropolitan New York Chapter of the US National Committee for UN Women, that works to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment; and currently serves on the Advisory Board for the W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project.
Senior Advisor
Education: Skidmore College (BA), New York; University of London, Goldsmith’s College, England; Columbia University (MS), New York.
