Contact:

Lauren Sucher
+1-202-429-3822
lsucher@usip.org

 

(Washington) — The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) has named Lauren Sucher Acting Director of Public Affairs. Previously Assistant Director for Media Relations, Sucher will assume management responsibility for the Institute’s Web team, a writer and departmental assistant. Her goal is to increase the Institute’s visibility by integrating the organization’s online presence with its media outreach.

Tara Sonenshine, USIP’s vice president for planning and outreach, said, “2009 marks USIP’s 25th anniversary. As the Institute prepares to move to a permanent headquarters facility that will serve some half a million visitors to the National Mall each year, we are improving and increasing our outreach to policymakers, academia, journalists and the general public. Lauren will be instrumental in telling the Institute’s story — be it insight and analysis, grants awarded around the world, trainings and courses in rural villages and urban centers — to new people in new ways.”

Sucher joined the Institute’s staff in November 2006, just in time to help launch the Iraq Study Group report in December 2006. She collaborated with organizational partners to publicize the work of the Genocide Prevention Task Force and generated media for USIP events such as the annual National Peace Essay Contest, groundbreaking of construction for the Institute’s new building, and two recent conferences, Passing the Baton and Media as Global Diplomat (cosponsored with ITVS). Prior to joining USIP, Sucher handled media relations for the Environmental Working Group and three candidates for public office, and served as a scheduler on Capitol Hill. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Towson State University and Master’s degrees from Emerson College and Brandeis University.