NISPAcee Mourns the Loss of its President, Mzia Mikeladze

Mzia Mikeladze, NISPAcee’s President, passed away suddenly on January 20, 2012. She was 51. The news came as a great shock to us all. We grieve her premature death and would like to thank all our NISPAcee friends who have expressed their condolences to us and to Mzia’s family.

The funeral was held in Tbilisi, Georgia on Tuesday, January 24, 2012. NISPAcee’s Director Ludmila Gajdosova attended to present our condolences to Mzia’s family and friends on behalf of NISPAcee and the entire international community. Mzia’s family expressed their deep gratitude for our support and would like to thank all those who share our sadness.

More about Mzia
Mzia Mikeladze was a graduate of the Georgian Polytechnic with her specialisation being information technologies. She received a PhD in IT from the Moscow Institute of Control Problems and an MPA from the Georgian Institute of Public Administration (GIPA). From 1997 to 2002 she served as Dean of GIPA. In 2003-2006 she worked as Director of Civic Education, Youth and Gender Programs at the Urban Institute, an American NGO, which dealt with the improvement of local governance in Georgia with the financial support of USAID. In addition, she was one of the founders of the Caucasus School of Business where she was a Dean of the School and delivered various courses in management for graduate students until her death. In 2003, she became involved in the introduction of the School of Public Administration in Kutaisi, the second largest city of Georgia. The School provides in-service training courses for local government employees. Mzia developed a curriculum, participated in the selection of the Director and faculty and served as Head of the Governing Board of the School.  In 2006, she became an Administrative Director of the International School of Economics at Tbilisi State University (ISET). This is a two-year graduate program in economics, introduced through a World Bank initiative. At the same time, she served as a Deputy Director of ISET. She was also a member of the Governing Board at the Centre for Training and Consultancy (CTC). Since 1997, Mzia was involved in various short-term projects dealing with the Georgian government and the ongoing public sector reforms.  

Mzia Mikeladze served on the NISPAcee Steering Committee from 2001 to 2004 and was re-elected as a member of the Steering Committee in 2006 and again in 2009. She served as NISPAcee’s President from 2006-2008 and was re-elected to this position in 2010. In all her capacities she was a constant contributor to NISPAcee’s development and helped achieve the organisation’s recognition not only in the region, but world-wide.

Though in no way complete, this list of her achievements is certainly remarkable. Were it not for her sudden and premature death, Mzia would have continued to impress us all through her determination to make things happen and change things for the better.

With Mzia’s sudden passing, her family, Georgia, NISPAcee and the entire international community has lost an extraordinary personality who devoted her life to making this a better world. She was not only a prominent person and irreplaceable professional, but also an open, cheerful, friendly, human personality, always ready to provide help and support.  

We will keep her in our minds and our hearts and we will always regard it as an honour and privilege to have known her personally. NISPAcee will follow Mzia’s vision and work hard towards the improvement of governance in the region to achieve a better life for all.
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Photo-gallery of Mzia Mikeladze

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CONDOLENCES

I am really sad to hear the news about death of Mzia Mikeladze. Please accept my sincere condolences. And thank you for going there on behalf of our community.

Gulnar Suleymanova, Academy of Management under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic

We would like to express our sincere condolence for your loss.
Regional School of Public Administration (ReSPA), Danilovgrad, Montenegro

We were very sad to hear the news of the passing away of Mzia so unexpectedly. We fully understand that is very hard for you and your staff to lose such a colleague and friend.
We would like you to know that our thoughts are with you. Best wishes to you and all your colleagues,
Seeta Autar, Secretariat EAPAA, The Netherlands

On behlalf of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of Kazakhstan I hereby take this somber moment to extend deepest condolences upon the death of Mzia Mikeladze, the NISPAcee President. It is certain that Mzia will forever remain in the history of the Association and in the bright memory of all organization partners and celleagues as the name that has largely contributed into the development of the NISPAcee and its mission worldwide. The Academy shares this bitter loss with the family, relatives, friends and colleagues of Mzia who will be sorely missed by everyone.
Aryn Orsariyev, Rector of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of Kazakhstan

It was really shocking news about Mzia Mikeladze death, i am very much sarrow for this issue and would like to share this very sad news with all international community and her family. My sincerest condolence on the behalf of the Ministry of Higher Education of Afghanistan to all knows her.
Dr. Abdul Rahim Hussainiyan, Deputy Minister for Rehabilitaion Affairs, Ministry of Higher Education, Afghanistan

I was so sorry to hear about Mzia. I have known her for quite a while, from a joint project we did with the Georgia Institute for Public Administration back in the mid-1990s, when I was still at the University of Georgia. She is missed.
Peter L. Gess, Hendrix College, USA

Sorry to know, this sad thing happened to one of our members.
Please express to the family of Mzia our condolence and thank you for going there on behalf of our community.
Djyldyz Kydyrova, Kyrgyzstan

She was the person who influence my life, I have learned a lot of things from her, even still we can not believe that she has passes away.
Maka Chitanava, ISET, Georgia

I was deeply saddened to hear about the sudden death of Mrs. Mzia Mikeladze, the NISPAcee President from my colleagues. NISPAcee suffered a terrible loss and I wish to express my condolences to the unconsoled family.
Coordinating activities in the public administration is a taugh mission and Mrs. Mzia Mikeladze succedeed in bringing people together for the same goal: building a better world.
I encourage aII NISPAcee members and staff to cherish her legacy and continue her work in improving public administration and offering the citizens better public services.
Andras Szakal, President of National Agency of Civil Servants, State Secretary, Romania

We learned with great sadness about the sudden death of Mrs. Mzia Mikeladze.
We’ve met Mrs. Mikeladze briefly in Varna, during the 19th NISPAcee Annual Conference and she left us the impression of being a very hard working person and very carrying with the people around her. Her words inviting us to build a better future for the public administration not to sit and wait for it to happen are still fresh in our memory.
This is a terrible loss for the NISPAcee family and we have to learn to work together without her guidance and to apply all of her lessons in our daily activities.
On behalf of NACS and our own, we send our sincere condolences to the bereaved family.
Adriana Circiumaru, Cristina Constantinescu, National Agency of Civil Servants, Romania

I was deeply saddened to hear about the death of Ms Mzia Mikeladze whom I remember from our last China meeting.
Please accept,  and pass on my sincere condolences to her family and NISPAcee friends.
Turgay Ergun, Public Administration Institute for Turkey and the Middle East (TODAIE), Turkey

I was deeply saddened to learn of Mzia’s death and I would like to express my sincere sympathy to her family and colleagues on behalf of IIAS, EGPA/IIAS and IASIA/IIAS General Directorate. During many years, Mzia’s dedication and selfless nature was always something that many others could only hope to attain and all who knew her regarded her with great respect and admiration. Her contributions and commitment will never be forgotten.
Please accept my sincere and heartfelt condolences at this most difficult of time.
Rolet Loretan, IIAS Director General, Belgium

I am very saddened about the news about Mzia.  She seemed bigger than life.
Michael Brintnall, American Political Science Association (APSA)

On behalf of the Officers, members and staff of ASPA, allow me express our
heartfelt sorrow regarding the unexpected passing of Mzia.  We were all
shocked and saddened to hear this news. Mzia was a premiere leader in our
field, and a respected member of the international public administration
community. Our thoughts are with NISPAcee during this difficult time.
Antoinette A. Samuel, American Society for Public Administration (ASPA)

I was deeply saddened to hear the news about the sudden death of Mzia. My thoughts are with all of you and her family during this difficult time. Mzia was an extraordinary personality and all who knew her regarded her with great admiration and respect. Please accept my heartfelt condolences at this most difficult of time.
Valeria Termini, IASIA President

It is indeed shocking and terribly sad but it is important to celebrate all of the extraodinarily good things that Mzia did and the difference that her presence made while she was here. In the jewish tradition we say that the spirit of one who passes on lives on in the deeds they have done and in  those whos lives they have touched. Certainly Mzia and her wonderful presence will live on in the deeds of many of us who new thru NISPAcee and many, many others  whom we have not met...
Allan Rosenbaum, Institute for Public Management and Community Service, Florida International University, USA

On behalf of the community of Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar" I would like to express our condolences on the tragic loss of Prof. Mzia MIkeladze, NISPAcee President and prominent inetrnational professional. Her sudden death was a shock to all of us. To many of us, Prof. Mikeladze was not only a colleague but also a dear friend of Bulgaria. We shall keep in our minds and hearts her irreplaceable professional contribution, kindness, responsiveness and positivism. I joinwith so many others who knew Prof. Mzia MIkeladze, once again, to offer you our deepest sympathy.
Anna Nedyalkova, Rector of Varna Free University, Bulgaria

On behalf of Academy of Public Administration under the aegis of the President of the Republic of Belarus allow us to express our sincerest condolences on the grievous occasion of Ms Mzia Mikeladze's sudden decease. We mourn for the loss of the person who played a great role in breaking boundaries between nations and expanding international cooperation. Please, render words of support and compassion to Ms Mikeladze's family and friends.
Ihar Hancharonak, Academy of Public Administration under the aegis of the President of the Republic of Belarus

That's bad news.I've known her personally and met with her many times. She is a prominent person, excellent expert and a nice person. It is a real loss for NISPAcee  and the international community. She will live in our memory.
Nuripa Mukanova, Anticorruption Business Council, Kyrghyzstan

It is with deep sadness that we learn of the sudden death of Mzia Mikeladze, NISPAcee President. Her outstanding contribution and her unfailing commitment will never be forgotten.
IASIA/IIAS conveys its most sincere condolences to NISPAcee at this most difficult of time.
Virginie Delattre Escudié, IASIA, Belgium

The National Academy of Public Administration, Office of the President of Ukraine and me personally express the deepest condolences and the wish to share the hard pain of loss of Mzia Mikeladze, the NISPAcee President. Mzi Mikeladze was a good example of the contemporary business woman, a prominent person and has a high prefessional level in the public administration and international cooperation issues. Also, we express our condolences to her family.
Yuri Kovbasiuk, National Academy of Public Administration, Ukraine

On behalf of our Russian colleagues who had honour to work with Mzia Mikeladze and to know her, I would like to convey our feeling of profound sorrow and present our condolences to her family, close friends and colleaugues. We deeply regret this untimely loss. Mzia Mikeladze left a good memory behind her both as a professional and an outstanding personality of international dimension. Let her best ideas, efforts, projects and contributions to the development of our community live forever and inspire our future best deeds! We will always remember her.
Lev Jakobson, Higher School of Economics, Russia

We were so very sorry to hear about the death of Mzia Mikeladze.  We know she was a great woman and that this loss will leave a great hole in your life. Sincerest condolence!
Tilcho Ivanov, Stancho Dimitrov, Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar", Bulgaria

All my condoleances to the saddened family and academic community for this terrible loss !
Elena Simina Tanasescu, Bucharest University, Romania

I am really sad to hear the news about death of Mzia Mikeladze. I met her only once or twice a long time ago, but she made a lasting impression as being an excellent professional and a very nice person. I can imagine this must be a shock not only for her family but also for all of you in the NISPAcee. Please accept my sincere condolences.
Aleksandra Rabrenovic, Serbia

With great regret to learn the sad news about the loss of a remarkable woman and social activist. Please accept my deepest condolences on the death of Mzia Mikeladze...
Tatyana Chernyak, Siberian Academy of Public Administration, Russia

May I offer my sincere condolences at Miza's death and I would be grateful for my kindest wishes to be added to those which you will receive.
Richard Masters, UK

Please accept the sincere condolence of the management and staff of Kharkiv Regional Institute of Public Administration of the National Academy of Public Administration, the Office of the President of Ukraine in connection with the untimely death of Mzia Mikeladze, the NISPAcee President, an eminent public executive, talented education administrator, and a fascinating personality. Like all the NISPAcee members, we mourn for the loss of a helping and reliable partner.
Vadym Landsman, Director of Kharkiv Regional Institute of Public Administration of the National Academy of Public Administration, Ukraine

This is indeed a great loss! The warmth, the intellectual depth, and the humanity of Mzia stroke me last year in Vienna.
Stavros Zouridis, Tilburg University, The Netherlands

My sincere condolences to the family and friends of Professor Mikeladze! We her passing, I feel that the community of scholars in Public Administration lost a valuable member and an inspiring leader. I am truly sorry...
Diana Iancu, National School of Political Studies and Public Administration, Bucharest, Romania

We are really sorry!! Please accept our deep condolences about this issue.
Mir Ghulam Usman Bariz Hossaini, Herat University, Afhganistan

I am sorry to read this. I met Mzia Mikeladze in Vienna last year. My sincere condoleances!
Philip Langbroek, Utrecht University, The Netherlands

I am so sorry to hear this sad news. She was really a cooperative manager and excellent personality. On be half of Kandahar University, Afghanistan, I would like to share my deepest condolence with NISPAcee, her respected family and colleagues. She will be always in our heart.
Abdul Tawab Balakarzai, Kandahar University, Afghanistan

Accept my sincerest condolence for her family, as well for NISPAcee. Rest in peace Mzia
Emira Mitrushi, Training Institute of Public Administration, Albania

Please convey my sorrow.
Blue Wooldridge, Virginia Commonwealth University, USA

Please accept my best thoughts ans sympathies.
Boris Morozov, Louisiana State University , USA

Very bad news. God Bless Her Spirit!
Prof. Dr. Fatmir Memaj, University of Tirana, Faculty of Economy, Albania

Аccept my most sincere condolences for the loss of the beloved colleague, friend and good person as is Mzia Mikeladze! Peace of her soul.
Daniela Popova, Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar", Bulgaria

I am really sorry about her death. This is really a shocking and sad news for all of us. In fact she was an asset for both international community and Afghanistan. Therefore, I want to declare our condolence on behalf of Afghanistan to her family and relatives and I hope god bless her. She would be in our life forever.
Mohammad Nasir Haydar, Balkh University, Afghanistan

It is really a bad message. She was a great person and personality. Please to send sincere condolences to the family and colleagues.
Georgeta Ghete, CINAQ–Professional Training Association for Local Public Administration , Romania

I am sad with all.
Zaneta Simanaviciene, Department of Business Economics , Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania

Please accept my sincere condolence to the loss for NISPAcee and all civil society.
Petr Jan Pajas, PASOS - Policy Association for an Open Society, Czech Republic

We were deeply saddened to hear that the President of Nispacee has passed away...
We would like to convey our most sincere condolences to NISPAcee for this terrible loss.
Bring, please, our sincerest condolences on the behalf of Kaunas University of Technology Faculty of Social Sciences Department of Public Administration in Kaunas, Lithuania to the family of Mrs. Mzia Mikeladze in Georgia.
Prof. Alvydas Raipa and Audrone Pauliukeviciute on the behalf of Kaunas University of Technology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Public Administration, Kaunas, Lithuania

That is very sad indeed. Please convey our condolencess.
B. Guy Peters, University of Pittsburgh, USA

Oh My God! It is a very sad news... Please accept my condolence. On behalf of Bialystok School of Public Administration I would like to express my condolence and pass it to the Family and you - the NISPAcee whole community. It is a painful loss for all of us.
Patrycja J. Suwaj, Bialystok School of Public Administration, Poland

Take our deepest condolence on occasion of death of Mzia Mikeladze. We as the Belarus NGO organizations very well know her as a irreplaceable professional. We also shall keep her in our mind and our hearts.
Yuri Krivorotko. By the honor of the NGO "Lev Sapieha Foundation, Minsk, Belarus.

Very sad indeed. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family.
Risk Keller, University of Tampa, USA

The Board of Directors and Staff of ASPA send its deepest sympathy with the loss of Madame President Mzia Mikeladze.
Duanne B. Crawley, Director of Administrative Services, Washington, USA

It was a big shock to know about passing away of Mzia Mikeladze. Only in May we've been together and talked with her. It's unbelieveble.
Marina Tyasto on behalf of Siberian Institute - Branch of Russian presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration

At this painful moment we would like to express our deepest sympathy and condolences!
Theo van der Krogt, Arthur Ringeling, Seeta Autar, EAPAA Secretariat

We met Mzia at the last NISPAcee conference in May 2011 and she was full of energy. Please send our deep condolences to her family members and acuitances in Georgia,
Aida Alymbaeva, American University of Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan

I have shocked to learn of a sudden death of Mzia Mikeladze. I knew her as a noted professional who contributed a lot in the UNITED NATIONS programs and projects on public administration reform and education in Eastern Europe.
Please convey my deep condolences to her family and friends.
Alexei Tikhomirov,
Vice President of the International Informatization Academy
in General Consultative Status with UNECOSOC
Honorary Professor of the International University in Moscow
Laureate of Edward Rhein Honorary Award

I would like to convey my most sincere condolences to NISPAcee for this terrible loss. With sincere sympathy...
Virginie Delattre Escudié, IASIA, Belgium

Please, pass our sincere condolences to Mzia's relatives and friends.
Mikhail Dmitriev, President of the Center for Strategic Research Russian Federation

Latvian School of Public Administration understand the severe loss of a professional, a big personality and an active advocate for a human society in a better world. Latvian School of Public Administration is thankful to you for speaking on behalf of the NISPAcee to the international community. Please be so kind to express our condolence to the family and the society and administration of Georgia. On behalf of me and the staff of LSPA.
Baiba Petersone, Latvian School of, Public Administration, Latvia

I met Mrs. Mzia Mikeladze at a recent conference in Varna. This is very sad news. Please accept sincerest condolences.
Mariusz Sienkiewicz, Marie Curie Sklodovska University, Lublin, Poland

That is terribly sad news :( I am very-very-very sorry to hear about her sudden and unfortunate passing away :( My condolences to the family. We will miss her tremendously!
Saddened,
Veronica Junjan, University of Twente, The Netherlands

We are sorry to know about this sad news. Please give our our sincere condolence to the relatives and friends of Mzia.
Elena Guseletova and Alexey Barabashev, Higher School of Economics, Russia

It is really sad news. Please pass our common sincerest condolence on the behalf of moldovan community too.
Andrei Petroia, Economic Studies Academy of Moldova, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova

This is indeed very sad news. Please convey y regrets and condolences jointly with the NISPAcee message to the family and colleagues of Mzia.
Adrian Ionescu, UNDP Moldova

I am really very sorry to read this news about Mzia. It is almost unbelievable to take it as reality. Please, give my deep condolence to her family. We, her friends, lost the warm and kind person and very enthusiastic expert.
Stanka Setnikar Cankar, Faculty of Administration, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia

I am shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Mzia. It seems only yesterday that we were on the lake in China together.
Meredith Newman, Florida International University, USA

I am shocked to learn about the sad demise of our Respected President of NISPAcee. She made a monumental contribution and has left a great void. We pray that her soul rest in peace, God gives stregth to the family of bereaved to bear this great loss and NISPAcee could do everything to complete the tasks left by Respected President.
Mishra Ramkumar, Institute of Public Enterprise, India

Very sad news indeed. Condolences to the family from Macedonia
Marija Risteska, Centre for Research and Policy Making, Macedonia

I respect this difficult moment that you all passe!I want to send my deeply regret and sincere expresse condolences to her family.
Maria Grigoruta, Faculty of Economics & Business Administration, University "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" Iasi, Romania

This is horrible news... I am so sorry about it. She was a great professional and a wonderful person.
Constantine Palicarsky, Bulgaria

It is very sad to hear this news! Please accept and convey my deep condolences.
Ainura Asamidinova, American University of Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan

Indeed, it is very sad news for all of us. Bring, please, our sincerest condolence on the behalf of Lithuanian Political Science Assosiation to the family of Mzia Mikeladze in Georgia.
Jurate Novagrockiene, Preident of Lithuanian Political Science Association (LPA)

Please pass our sincere condolence to the family, we very much regret, it is always hard to believe and except when such great people passed away.
Shytikova Svitlana, Institute for Leadership, Innovations and Development, Ukraine

I can hardly believe this! Please express my deepest regret to those who are grieving her.
Marton Gellen

Indeed, it is a great shock for us. It is a tremendous pain for us all, everybody loved her very much! She will forever remain in our memories and in our hearts.
Eka Kemularia, Parliament of Georgia, Committee on Human Rights and Civil Integration

We express sincerest condolence on the behalf of National academy of PA, Ukraine and its Odessa Regional Institute.
Natalya Kolisnichenko, Odessa Regional Institute of Public Administration, NAPA

I"m so sorry for this bad news.
I would like to share with you , my sincerest condolence for her death.
Av. Drita Avdyli, Director for Citizenship and Refugees, Regional Coordinator of MARRI, National Commissioner for Refugees, Ministry of Interior, Albania

The death of the president of NISPAcee is really sad news. She was great, friendly and very cooperative person.
Iryna Krawchuk, National Academy of Public Administration, Office of the President of Ukraine

Indeed, it is a shocking and very sad news! I am so sorry, I met and knew personally Mzia and she was a wonderful person! Please give my deep and sincere condolences to her family and friends,
Ana Vasilache, PARTNERS ROMANIA, Foundation for Local Development

This is very bad news. She was an intellectual rock from which many of us benefited. Her wonderful demeanor calmed even the calmest of us. This continuing affirmation of her efforts on our behalf stimulated us to higher performance. Just as her presence was beginning to ground us in excellence, she is gone. It's not fair. We will remember her fondly.
Don Fuller, Anglo-American University, Czech Republic