Washington, DC — The Washington, DC-based nonprofit Global Ties U.S. is pleased to announce the addition of two new members to its Advisory Council: Aviva Rosenthal and Chris Hensman. These accomplished individuals bring decades of experience from the nonprofit, public diplomacy, and international exchange fields to an important leadership body for Global Ties U.S.
“We are thrilled to welcome Aviva and Chris to the team,” said Philip Lauinger, Jr. and Lawrence Chastang, Co-Chairs of the Advisory Council. “We are confident that both leaders will elevate the mission and work of Global Ties U.S. and positively impact the organization with their contributions.”
Aviva Rosenthal is the Director of the Smithsonian’s Office of International Relations, where she oversees the institution’s global projects, partnerships, and strategic priorities. Prior to joining the Smithsonian, Aviva served as Chief of Staff to the Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, overseeing international communications, cultural programming, and visitor programs.
Chris Hensman is the Director of New Programs at Arnold Ventures, where he leads business development to expand the company’s efforts in addressing pressing social problems in the United States and abroad. Chris has a wide range of public and private sector experience, including roles with the National Security Council, the U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy, the U.S. Department of State, and, most recently at the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, where he oversaw Rebuild Texas Fund programming for Hurricane Harvey-impacted counties in Southeast Texas.
“We are excited to welcome two very dedicated and inspiring members to the Advisory Council,” said Katherine Brown, Ph.D., President and CEO of Global Ties U.S. “Aviva and Chris are committed to making an impact when it comes to public diplomacy and international exchange, and with their extensive experience and dedication we cannot wait to see what they will contribute.”
In addition to Aviva and Chris, the following 13 distinguished individuals are also members of the Advisory Council:
- The Honorable Bruce S. Buckland
- Lynn Chia
- Lawrence Chastang
- Alexander Durtka, Jr.
- Akram Elias
- Ambassador Kenton Keith
- Philip Lauinger, Jr.
- Ambassador Richard Lebaron
- Vicente López-Ibor Mayor
- Kyle Moyer
- Sherry Lee Mueller, Ph.D.
- Anthony Shop
- Ambassador Barbara Stephenson
The Global Ties U.S. Advisory Council is comprised of prominent individuals who provide support and expertise to help Global Ties U.S. achieve its vision and mission. Council members serve as advisors and ambassadors for Global Ties U.S., building bridges with individuals and organizations that are aligned with its mission. Advisory Council members are nominated by the president, the board of directors, or other advisory council members.
About Global Ties U.S.
Global Ties U.S. powers individuals, communities, and nations to build trust and advance peace and prosperity through international exchange. It is a nonprofit partner of the U.S. Department of State and supports a community-based network of 90+ nonprofit organizations serving all 50 U.S. states. Global Ties U.S. members are exchange professionals who provide the domestic infrastructure for U.S. public diplomacy efforts, implementing the International Visitor Leadership Program and a wide variety of educational, cultural, and professional exchange programs.