Farah Pandith, Future of Diplomacy Project Senior Fellow and former State Department Special Representative for Muslim Communities will discuss the terror attacks in Brussels and U.S. and global strategies for combating IS and countering violent extremism.
Farah Pandith is a foreign policy strategist, former diplomat and social entrepreneur. She a Senior Fellow at the Future of Diplomacy Project at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. She is writing a book and driving efforts to counter extremism through new organizations, programs and initiatives.
Ms. Pandith has served as a political appointee in the George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Barack H. Obama administrations. She has served in various senior capacities focused on issues of countering violent extremism, democracy, development and Muslim youth. Most recently, she was appointed the first-ever Special Representative to Muslim by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton (2009-2014). She served in this capacity for both Secretaries Clinton and Kerry. She reported directly to the Secretary of State. Ms. Pandith traveled to more than 80 countries and launched youth-focused initiatives including Generation Change, Viral Peace, the Transatlantic Leadership Network, and Hours Against Hate (a campaign that was a partner with the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.) She is also a key architect of the Women in Public Service Project. She was awarded the Secretary's Distinguished Honor Award for "exceptionally outstanding service to the agencies of the US Government resulting in achievements of marked national or international significance." Her one of-a-kind programs in countering violent extremism have been singled out by organizations as diverse as the Bi-Partisan Policy Center and Wired magazine.
