Michelle Gavin — SPARQNOW

At-a-Glance

Serves as a Senior Fellow for Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.
Served as the U.S. Ambassador to Botswana from 2011 to 2014, concurrently as the U.S. Representative to the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Served as a Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs on the National Security Staff.
Was the Managing Director of The Africa Center, a multi-disciplinary institution.
Instrumental in the conception and launch of the Young African Leaders Initiative.
A Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, where she earned an M.Phil in International Relations.
Editor of a book about global challenges confronting young people and author of several articles and reports.

Biography

Michelle Gavin is a senior fellow for Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, where she focuses on international policy. Her expertise spans sub-Saharan Africa, security issues, HIV/AIDS, governance, anti-corruption, human rights, and youth engagement, drawing from over fifteen years of experience in public and non-governmental sectors.

From 2011 to 2014, Gavin served as the U.S.