WASHINGTON—The United States Institute of Peace is pleased to welcome Tamara Cofman Wittes, who this week joined our Research and Studies Program as a Middle East specialist.

Wittes comes to us from the Middle East Institute, where she was director of programs from June 2000 to December 2002. In that position, she developed and ran programs examining politics, culture and society in the region, from Morocco to Pakistan.

A specialist on the Arab-Israeli peace process, Wittes has undertaken research projects exploring confidence-building within that process, challenges to reform in Syria and the role of ethnic diasporas in conflict resolution.

Wittes' work has been published in Political Science Quarterly, International Studies Notes, National Security Studies Quarterly and other publications.

"We are very fortunate to have a scholar of Tamara's caliber on our staff," said Institute President Richard H. Solomon. "Her expertise will be invaluable to our efforts toward helping to resolve conflicts in this vitally important part of the world."

A member of the Council on Foreign Relations and Women in International Security, Wittes often provides expert commentary and analysis for CNN, National Public Radio, the BBC and other news outlets.

She holds a B.A. from Oberlin College, and an M.A. and a Ph.D. from Georgetown University.

In the Research and Studies Program, Wittes joins program director Paul Stares, deputy director William Drennan, who specializes in East Asian affairs, and Africa specialist Tim Docking.