Farah Pandith

Farah Pandith is an author and Senior Fellow with the Future of Diplomacy Project at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and an adjunct Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. She was appointed America's first-ever special representative to Muslim Communities in 2009 by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, serving under both Secretaries Clinton and John Kerry. During her tenure, she traveled to nearly one hundred countries, launching youth-focused initiatives and engaging with thousands of Muslim youth.

Pandith has held several significant roles, including positions on the National Security Council, the US Department of State, and the US Agency for International Development. She also served as a political appointee under three presidents. Her contributions to public service extend to her role as the main architect of the Women in Public Service Project, launched at the US Department of State in 2011 to promote women's participation in public service. Additionally, Pandith has been recognized for her efforts with the Secretary of State’s Distinguished Honor Award.

Currently, Pandith is a member of the US Department of Homeland Security’s Advisory Council and a Senior Fellow at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. She is also a senior advisor and commissioner for the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ "A New Comprehensive Strategy for Countering Violent Extremism." Her insights and expertise are frequently shared in major publications including "The New York Times", "The Washington Post", "Bloomberg View", "The Guardian", and "The Boston Globe." Her book, "How We Win: How Cutting-Edge Entrepreneurs, Political Visionaries, Enlightened Business Leaders and Social Media Mavens Can Defeat the Extremist Threat", further elaborates on strategies to counter violent extremism effectively.