Celeste Wallander will serve as the inaugural executive director of Penn Washington, effective June 1 (Photo from Penn Today).
Provost John Jackson Jr. and Vice Provost for Global Initiatives Ezekiel Emanuel announced the appointment of Celeste Wallander as the inaugural executive director of Penn Washington, effective June 1.
As executive director, Wallander will be responsible for the programmatic leadership and operational management of Penn Washington, a newly launched initiative that establishes a physical hub for Penn in Washington. Her work will include advancing Penn’s academic mission and connecting the University’s research to real-time policy discussions across a wide range of issues.
“I am excited to join the University of Pennsylvania to advance the public service mission inherent in education,” Wallander told Penn Today. “Penn Washington will be a resource and partner for current and future U.S. leaders navigating our complex world by connecting them to Penn faculty who are tackling these very same challenges in their research and seeking the answers we need.”
Wallander brings to the role more than two decades of experience in the federal government and over 30 years in academic research and policy engagement. Her public service roles includes assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs at the Department of Defense, special assistant to the president and senior director for Russia and Central Asia on the National Security Council, deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia policy, former president and CEO of the United States Russia Foundation, and founder of the Program on New Approaches to Russian Security.
She has also held faculty positions at Harvard University, American University, and Georgetown University.
“Dr. Wallander brings deep experience to Penn and Penn Washington at a critical moment. Her wide expertise in shaping foreign policy and building programs and institutions will be invaluable as we expand the work of Penn Washington in the years ahead,” Jackson told Penn Today.
Penn President Larry Jameson and Jackson announced the creation of Penn Washington in June 2024, positioning it as Penn’s hub in the nation’s capital.
According to the University of Pennsylvania Almanac, Penn Washington aims to unite three key initiatives: the Penn Franklin Initiative, a new set of programs focused on domestic policy; the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement, which advances global policy work in partnership with Penn Global and Perry World House; and a broader platform for the Penn in Washington program, designed to support the longstanding Penn in Washington program and expand the University’s presence in the capital.
The program will be led by Emanuel, who will serve as faculty director, with Associate Vice Provost for Global Initiatives Amy Gadsden stepping in as deputy director.
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