Mark Schneider


Mark Schneider


Mark Schneider joined ICG as the Group's Senior Vice-President, based in
Washington in spring 2001.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Director, Peace Corps, Washington, D.C. (December 1999 to January 2001).
Presidential appointee, confirmed by the U.S. Senate, responsible for policy,
program, and operations of the agency which pursues goals of contributing to
development, international understanding and peace through the work of its
7300 Peace Corps Volunteers. Managed a federal agency budget of more than
$265 million, a staff of 2400 U.S. and foreign personnel, a Washington
headquarters, 76 overseas posts and 11 domestic recruiting offices. Principal
spokesperson for the Peace Corps to the Congress, the public and the press.
Established new initiatives including expanded HIV/AIDS prevention education in
Africa, information technology integration into development projects, biodiversity
protection, natural disaster prevention and democracy support through
municipal development. Obtained private foundation support for HIV/AIDS and
technology initiatives.

Assistant Administrator for Latin America and the Caribbean, Agency for
International Development, Washington, D.C. (October 1993 to 1999).
Presidential appointee, confirmed by the U.S. Senate, responsible for managing
all USAID development assistance programs in the Western Hemisphere;
including 16 overseas missions, $800 million average annual budget, and 1400
U.S. and foreign national staff. Chaired U.S. Government delegations to World
Bank and Inter-American Development Bank donor conferences for Central
American Peace accords, for Peru, Bolivia, and Haiti development plans and for
Hurricane Mitch reconstruction, resulting in multi-billion dollar international
community commitments. Led U.S. delegations to various Organization of
American States (OAS) conferences. Member of U.S. delegations accompanying
President Clinton, Vice President Gore and Secretary Albright to regional heads
of state and foreign ministers meetings.

Chief, Office of Analysis and Strategic Planning and Senior Policy Adviser,
Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Regional Office of the World
Health Organization (WHO), Washington, D.C. (July 1981 to September
1993).
Coordinator of policy planning of PAHO's technical cooperation program and
senior advisor on its relations with the United States, other Western
Hemisphere countries, the OAS, the United Nations and other international
organizations. Directed studies on the social impact of the debt and economic
crises in Latin America. Coordinator of the Central American initiative "Health as
a Bridge for Peace," negotiating grant agreements with European governments,
the EEC and UN agencies for more than $100 million. Represented PAHO at
seven Central American presidential summits, the Sanford Central American
Commission and UN post-conflict missions to design Nicaragua and El
Salvadoran demobilization and reconstruction programs.

Senior Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights and
Humanitarian Affairs, Department of State, Washington, D.C. (1977-1979).
Principal responsibility for policy recommendations and establishing procedures
for monitoring human rights aspects of U.S. foreign policy. Daily supervision and
management of 25 staff. Acting Assistant Secretary at intervals throughout
period. Official State Department spokesperson to the Congress,
non-governmental organizations, international agencies and the media. Led
inter-agency human rights consultations with European governments, Japan
and Canada. Participated in U.S. refugee program policy reviews. U.S.
delegation leader to the UN Human Rights Commission, to UN Review
Conference on Non-Governmental Organizations, and to World Bank and OAS
conferences and directed several human rights investigations.

Legislative Assistant, Senate Committee Staff Member, United States
Senate, Office of Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Senate Committees on Labor
and Human Resources and Judiciary (1970-1977; February 1980 to June
1981). Kennedy for President Campaign (November 1979 to February
1980).
Responsible for policy counsel, speechwriting, legislative drafting, research,
organizing hearings, and press relations in Latin American affairs, foreign policy,
development assistance, defense, refugees and education, energy and
poverty-related domestic legislative areas.

Reporter, Washington Daily News (1969-70), S. F. NewsCallBulletin (1965), UPI
(1963-64).
Director of Community Relations, Pittsburg, California (November 1968 to
January 1969).
Peace Corps Volunteer, El Salvador (1966-1968).

EDUCATION:
San Jose State University, M.A. Political Science, 1965. Graduation with honors.
University of California-Berkeley, B.A. Journalism, 1963. Graduation with honors.
Visiting Professor, Georgetown University, Spring Semester l995.
Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow, Reed College, April l981. Visiting Scholar,
Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School, Fall semester 1976.

HONORS AND AWARDS:
Honorary Doctor of Laws degree, American University, Washington College of
Laws, May 2000. George W. Eastman Medal for Public Service, University of
Rochester, May 2000. Bernardo O'Higgins Medal for Human Rights, Government
of Chile, January 1993. Congressional Fellowship, American Political Science
Association, 1969-70 Recipient of numerous other scholarships and fellowships.
Past board membership in various international, human rights, academic and
civic organizations.

Spanish, fluent; French, conversant.