U.S. Ambassador-at-Large Daniel Benjamin has been appointed the director of the Dickey Center for International Understanding, according to a College press release. Benjamin, who has served as the coordinator for counterterrorism at the U.S. State Department since his 2009 appointment by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, will assume his post at the College on Jan. 1, 2013, replacing Acting Director of the Dickey Center Christianne Wohlforth.
"I'm excited about coming to Dartmouth," Benjamin said in the press release. "The prospect of working with some of the best students and most talented scholars and researchers in the country is extraordinarily attractive."
Benjamin who will succeed previous Director Kenneth Yalowitz, who retired in December 2011 said he hopes to bring a "policy perspective" to the College in his work with the Dickey Center and aims to foster connections between Washington and Hanover, according to the press release.
"He will be able to build on the Dickey Center's existing strengths, as well as partner with faculty members to develop some new directions," Acting Associate Provost for International Affairs Lindsay Whaley said in the press release. "I look forward to working with him."
Benjamin has more than 30 years of experience in the field of counterterrorism and previously served on the National Security Council in the 1990s, according to the press release. In addition, Benjamin worked as a foreign policy speechwriter for former President Bill Clinton and as the director of the Brookings Institution's Center on the United States and Europe, the press release said.
"Dan Benjamin's impressive experience and broad level of international engagement, research and understanding fits well with the Dickey Center's mission of providing a place for rigorous intellectual dialogue on the vital issues of the day," Provost Carol Folt said in the press release.
Prior to his work with counterterrorism, Benjamin wrote for The Wall Street Journal and Time Magazine, according to the press release. Benjamin received his bachelor's degree from Harvard University and his masters degree from Oxford University.
