For Immediate Release
Contact:
Allison Sturma
202-429-4725 – Direct
202-415-4935 – Mobile

(Washington) - The United States Institute of Peace Board of Directors has selected Nancy Lindborg to be the Institute’s new president. Lindborg, who has devoted most of her career to issues of transition, democracy and civil society, conflict and humanitarian response, will be the fifth president in the organization’s 30-year history.

“On behalf of the USIP Board of Directors, we are pleased and enthusiastic that Nancy Lindborg has accepted the top job of leading the Institute,” said USIP Board Chair and former National Security Advisor Stephen J. Hadley. “Nancy Lindborg brings an outstanding mix of international experience, deep knowledge of the peacebuilding field, and the leadership skills necessary to manage this important national Institution.”

“The current proliferation of global crises underscores the profound and urgent need for innovative approaches for pursuing peace,” said Lindborg. “USIP is a unique platform for thought leadership connected to action on the ground, and it is an extraordinary expression of the United States’ commitment to peace. I am deeply honored to have this opportunity.”

Lindborg takes the helm at USIP on February 2, 2015. Ambassador Bill Taylor will continue to serve as Acting President in the interim. She succeeds former Congressman Jim Marshall, who completed his service at USIP in January. Kristin Lord served as acting president for much of the interim period.

Lindborg is currently serving as Assistant Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance, a position she has held since October 2010.

“In the face of unprecedented complex crises, Nancy has demonstrated exemplary management, strengthening our nation’s enduring legacy as the world’s humanitarian leader,” said USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah. “She has pioneered innovative programs to change the way governments respond to crisis and strengthen resilience in the world’s most desolate areas. I have seen the legacy of her leadership in communities, clinics, and schools from the Syrian borders to South Sudan and Somalia and met humanitarians worldwide who are inspired by her example. We look forward to continuing to advance our shared mission together.”

Prior to joining USAID, Lindborg worked for 14 years at Mercy Corps, including 6 years as President. Lindborg holds a B.A. and M.A. in English Literature from Stanford University and an M.A. in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. A full biography of Lindborg can be found here. 

Created by an act of Congress in 1984, the U.S. Institute of Peace is a Congressionally-funded, independent, nonpartisan institution whose mission is to prevent, mitigate and resolve violent conflicts around the world. USIP fulfills this mission by engaging directly in conflict zones and providing analysis, education, and resources to those working for peace. The Institute’s staff of nearly 350 work in Washington and in some of the world’s most volatile regions, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, Sudan and South Sudan. USIP’s headquarters on the National Mall stands as a visible symbol of America’s commitment to peace.

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The United States Institute of Peace is a Congressionally-created, independent, nonpartisan institution. Its mission is to prevent, mitigate, and resolve violent conflicts around the world by engaging directly in conflict zones and by providing analysis, education, and resources to those working for peace.