WASHINGTON, April 1, 2019 – The Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington is pleased to announce the creation of the Frank G. Wisner Jr. Chair for Arabian Peninsula Strategic Studies. The position is open to scholars from all academic disciplines whose research and relevant experience is focused on the political-military and security strategies of the Gulf Arab states. The selected scholar will join AGSIW to conduct research, author short- and long-form analyses, as well as plan and participate in public programs and other events. AGSIW expects to welcome the first Wisner Scholar in summer 2020.
Ambassador Frank G. Wisner’s diplomatic career spanned four decades; he served as U.S. ambassador to Zambia, Egypt, the Philippines, and India. He served at the Pentagon as under secretary of defense for policy, and at the Department of State as under secretary of state for international security affairs. Throughout the course of his career, he worked closely with Secretary of State Henry Kissinger to launch negotiations with Zimbabwe and Namibia and served as the U.S. special representative to the Kosovo Status Talks in 2005, where he played a crucial role in negotiating Kosovo’s independence.
Since its inception in 2014, Wisner has served as chair of the AGSIW board of directors. According to AGSIW’s president, Ambassador Marcelle M. Wahba, “Frank’s leadership, vision, and indefatigable energy have been fundamental to the institute as it has established its identity and developed its voice as a reliable source of timely and thoughtful analysis on a region that is critical to U.S. strategic interests and national security.”
Responding to the news of the creation of a sponsored chair in his name, Wisner said, “I am deeply touched by this gesture and grateful to have had the privilege of being part of AGSIW’s extended family from the very beginning. I have watched with pride as the institute has grown and prospered, providing policymakers, private sector leaders, and academics with insight into the internal dynamics shaping policy – and society – in the Gulf Arab states.”
Donations to the Frank G. Wisner Jr. Chair for Arabian Peninsula Strategic Studies can be made here. AGSIW will host special events in support of the Wisner Chair, inviting friends and colleagues of Ambassador Frank G. Wisner to celebrate his enormous contributions to international peace and stability. For more information, please contact [email protected].
About AGSIW
The Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington (AGSIW), launched in 2015, is an independent, nonprofit institution dedicated to providing expert research and analysis of the social, economic, and political dimensions of the Gulf Arab states and how they impact domestic and foreign policy. AGSIW focuses on issues ranging from politics and security to economics, trade, and business; from social dynamics to civil society and culture. Through programs, publications, and scholarly exchanges the institute seeks to encourage thoughtful debate and inform the U.S. policy community regarding this critical geostrategic region.
