2/6/2006 - J. Brian Atwood, Dean of the Hubert Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs elected Chairperson of AFS International’s Board of Trustees
One of the world’s foremost development experts will lead the Board of prestigious intercultural exchange organization.
NEW YORK, NY, January 29, 2006 – AFS International announced the election of J. Brian Atwood as the chairperson of its Board of Trustees. Atwood, who is the Dean of the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota, held the vice chair position of the AFS International Board in 2005. Atwood was the first President of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) from 1986-1993 and built this democratic development institution into a major international force for the promotion of democracy. He received an honorary doctorate from American University in 1995 for his work in promoting human rights and democratic values. Atwood has received numerous other awards for public service, including the U.S. Secretary of State’s Distinguished Service Award.
“I feel privileged to serve as Chair of an organization that played such an important role in shaping my outlook on life” said Atwood, who was an AFS exchange student from the U.S. to Luxembourg in 1959, “I look forward to working with President Francisco Cazal and other members of AFS International’s Board of Trustees in expanding and strengthening the AFS network. I would like to see AFS better recognized for its contribution to world peace. We face a more fragile international community where tensions among peoples are accentuated by leaders who seem often to exploit differences for short term gain. Intercultural learning is the most effective antidote to this dangerous tendency and no organization does this work better than AFS.”
Atwood’s distinguished career includes six years as Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) during the Administration of President William Clinton. He was Under Secretary of State for Management prior to his appointment as head of USAID. As the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development from May 1993 to July 1999, Atwood introduced comprehensive management reforms and a more focused development strategy. Atwood helped promote a number of highly successful initiatives in the areas of global climate change, democratization, conflict prevention and health. He led presidential delegations to Haiti, El Salvador and East Africa, was a special presidential envoy to Eastern Zaire during the exodus of refugees caused by the Rwanda genocide, and the Humanitarian Relief Coordinator during the Kosovo crisis.
In December 1998, President Clinton nominated Atwood as Ambassador to Brazil. Atwood withdrew prior to Senate confirmation to create Citizens International, an organization that designs and manages public and private social development investments to meet the needs of developing nations. In 2001, Atwood served on United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan’s Panel on Peace Operations. He also served on the Secretary of Energy’s Advisory Board, the Center for Strategic International Studies/U.S. Army Association Commission to study Post-Conflict Reconstruction and the Council on Foreign Relations task force. During the Carter Administration he served as Assistant Secretary of State for Congressional Relations. He was Dean of Professional Studies and Academic Affairs at the Foreign Service Institute in 1981-82.
The Board also welcomed three newly elected members, Dr. Kofi Apraku, the Minister of State for Regional Cooperation and the New Partnership for Africa (NEPAD) in Ghana, Mr. Christian Kurtén, who retired after serving as Senior Vice President at NOKIA Telecommunications in Finland, and Bill Meserve, Senior Counsel at the firm of Ropes & Gray in Boston, Massachusetts.
“We are truly excited about the role that the newly elected Board members will play, under the leadership of Brian Atwood, in supporting AFS’s ambitious plans and leading the organization forward. Our commitment to continue to deliver on our core values of enabling people to act as responsible global citizens and to work for peace and understanding in a diverse world, will be well served by this board.”, said Francisco Cazal, President of AFS International, “These board members will help AFS reaffirm its purpose to continue to achieve excellence as the premier intercultural global exchange organization.”
About AFS
AFS Intercultural Programs, Inc. (www.afs.org) is one of the world’s largest not-for-profit community-based volunteer organizations dedicated to building a more just and peaceful world through intercultural exchange. AFS has a network of 52 Partner organizations and runs programs in more than 50 countries involving over 11,000 students, young adults and teachers each year. Since 1947, more than 325,000 individuals and an equal number of host families have had the AFS experience. In addition, AFS has Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations.
Press Contacts:
For additional information please contact: Carlos Porro, Manager of Development and Communications, email: carlos.porro@afs.org, telephone: (212) 807-8686 ext.121
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