CFR Announces That James M. Lindsay Will Be Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy and Shannon K. O’Neil Will Be New Director of the David Rockefeller Studies Program

The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) announces two changes in its David Rockefeller Studies Program, as of Monday, September 16.

James M. Lindsay, who has long served as senior vice president, director of Studies, and Maurice R. Greenberg chair, will become the Mary and David Boies distinguished senior fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy and director of Fellowship Affairs. Dr. Lindsay is a leading authority on the American foreign policymaking process and the domestic politics of American foreign policy.

Shannon K. O’Neil, currently vice president, deputy director of Studies, and senior fellow for Latin America studies, will become the new senior vice president, director of Studies, and the Maurice R. Greenberg chair. Dr. O’Neil is an expert on global trade, supply chains, Mexico, Latin America, and democracy.

Dr. Lindsay will be focusing on his scholarly work, including by leading a CFR study group on how the United States should respond to the rise of the axis of autocracies, continuing to host the popular CFR podcast The President’s Inbox, and overseeing CFR’s fourteen fellowship programs. 

“We owe Jim a debt of gratitude for his leadership of the Studies program for nearly twenty years. Jim’s vision and implementation helped make CFR the leading foreign policy think tank in the world. I am thrilled that he will continue to contribute to the important debate about the role of the United States in the world in his new capacity as a distinguished senior fellow,” said CFR President Michael Froman.

Dr. O’Neil will oversee the Studies program, its more than six dozen fellows, and their substantive work and analysis to further CFR’s mission to engage and inform members, policymakers, and interested citizens on foreign policy. Substantively, she will continue to work on geoeconomic issues, including supply chains and industrial policy, and analysis regarding nations throughout the Western Hemisphere. 

“I am delighted that Shannon has agreed to take the helm in Studies. She will work closely with me on identifying priorities for the think tank’s research agenda, developing collaborative new projects, coordinating our cross-cutting initiatives, furthering the impact of CFR’s work, and managing the work of fellows and Studies staff. She has been by Jim’s side for years and we are confident that this will be a seamless transition,” said Froman.

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