For Immediate Release:

(Washington) – The U.S. Institute of Peace has named communications and foreign policy professional Diane Zeleny as its vice president for external relations. Zeleny will lead the institute’s outreach and public communications strategy, and will oversee its public affairs, public education, congressional relations and institutional development efforts.

Zeleny has specialized in strategic communications and national security issues over a career with the Department of State, Radio Free Europe, and numerous think tanks and non-government organizations. She has served in Washington, as well as abroad in Brussels, Prague, Istanbul and elsewhere. Since 2014, she has been USIP’s director of communications.

“Diane is extraordinarily savvy about how Washington works,” said institute President Nancy Lindborg. “We are lucky to have someone internally who has the skills to step seamlessly into this critical role.”

“USIP, with its mandate from Congress to reduce violent conflict, represents the American people’s values, remaining nonpartisan and independent of any given administration,” said Zeleny. “That is a mission I feel privileged to support, notably by showing Americans and international audiences how this work and this organization advance our common interests.”

Zeleny has lived and worked abroad for over 15 years, and lives now in Bethesda with her family, including two children and two cats.