Ambassador Wendy J. Chamberlin Named to Global Communities Board

Ambassador Wendy J. Chamberlin Named to Global Communities Board of Trustees

This article originally appeared in Business Wire

SILVER SPRING, Md.-—BUSINESS WIRE)-—Global Communities today announced the appointment of Ambassador Wendy J. Chamberlin, President of the Middle East Institute (MEI), to its Board of Trustees.
“It’s my pleasure to welcome Ambassador Wendy Chamberlin to the Board of Global Communities,” said Robert A. Mosbacher, Jr, Chairman of the Global Communities Board of Trustees. “In this time of rapid change, we value the input from Wendy’s far-reaching experience and I am certain that she will help Global Communities to continue to thrive and be a leading organization in the international development community.”
A 29-year veteran of the US Foreign Service, Chamberlin served as US Ambassador to the Laos People’s Democratic Republic (1996-1999), and to Pakistan from 2001 to 2002. Prior to joining MEI in 2007, Ambassador Chamberlin served as Deputy High Commissioner for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (2004-2007) where she supervised the administration of the UN humanitarian organization with a budget of four billion dollars.
During her appointment to the US Agency for International Development (USAID) as Assistant Administrator in the Asia-Near East Bureau from 2002 to 2004, she established civilian reconstruction programs in Iraq and Afghanistan and development assistance programs throughout the Middle East and East Asia. Her other leadership positions at the State Department included Director of Press and Public Affairs for the Near East Bureau (1991-1993), Deputy Chief of Mission in the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur (1993-1996), Arab-Israeli Affairs (1982-1984) and several postings as special assistant to the Deputy Secretary, Under Secretary for Political Affairs and Assistant Secretary for Asian Pacific Affairs.
A graduate of Northwestern University, she has an MS in Education from Boston University and participated in the Executive Program at Harvard University. She holds an honorary PhD from Northwestern University.
“We are thrilled to have Wendy on our board where her vast international development experience will enhance our work with the world’s most vulnerable communities,” said David A. Weiss, President and CEO of Global Communities. “Her service, particularly her stellar leadership qualities and expertise in foreign affairs including working in many of the regions where Global Communities had been active for many years, will be a welcome addition to our efforts.”