Center for Global Awareness Mission

The mission of the Center for Global Awareness is to bring balanced views, a holistic approach, and global perspectives to its books, resources, and professional services in the areas of world history, cross-cultural understanding and global topics. CGA’s approach encourages educators and students in grade 9-university to acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to engage responsibly in the 21st century.

President Dr. Denise R. Ames
Denise & Nancy

Dr. Denise R. Ames, a veteran educator, draws on her extensive teaching experience, varied personal experiences, far-reaching world travels, and careful research in developing a holistic, globally-focused approach to world history, cultural awareness, the global economy, and significant global topics. She has taught in secondary schools, a community college, universities, and professional development training. She has spoken publicly and conducted professional development workshops in world history, globalization, and global awareness for educators both nationally and internationally. She founded the Center for Global Awareness in 2003 and has since served as its president. Dr. Ames has authored eight books and blogs regularly for CGA. She lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.

Director Nancy W. Harmon

Educator Nancy W. Harmon has been an educator for more than 30 years with a MA degree in multicultural education from University of New Mexico and certification in English and English as a Second Language. She has taught and developed curriculum in a variety of situations, including a community school on the Navajo reservation, teacher training for Peace Corps in Eritrea and Thailand, and an environmental management graduate program taught in English in Bangkok, Thailand. She helped implement a nationally recognized service learning program at an innovative charter high school. She is the author of International Folktales and lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.

The Zia Sun Symbol

The logo for the Center for the Global Awareness is based on the Zia Sun symbol. To us, it symbolizes that the global and the local are interconnected together in a dynamic relationship. With inspiration provided by Denise and Nancy, the logo was created by Daryl Fuller, Tijeras, New Mexico.

The Zia people of New Mexico regard the Sun as a sacred symbol. Their symbol, a red circle with groups of rays pointing in four directions, is painted on ceremonial vases, drawn on the ground around campfires, and used to introduce newborns to the Sun. Four is the sacred number of the Zia and can be found repeated in the four points radiating from the circle. The number four is embodied in the Zia peoples’ beliefs:

  • the four points of the compass (north, south, east, and west);
  • the four seasons of the year (spring, summer, autumn and winter);
  • the four periods of each day (morning, noon, evening and night);
  • the four seasons of life (childhood, youth, middle years and old age); and
  • the four sacred obligations one must develop (a strong body, a clear mind, a pure spirit, and a devotion to the welfare of others).


The Zia Sun Symbol is featured on the New Mexico flag.