Former US Ambassador to Venezuela named President of the Institute of the Americas

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Sunday, May 11, 2003 By: VHeadline.com Reporters

The US State Department's highest-ranking diplomat and most senior expert on Latin America and Venezuela has been elected to the presidency of the Institute of the Americas based in San Diego to focus on outreach and creating awareness of the Institute's programs. The Institute is "a California non-profit organization exempt from taxation under the Internal Revenue Code with the declared mission to be a significant catalyst for promoting development and integration, emphasizing the role of the private sector, as a means to improve the economic, political, and social well being of the people of the Americas."

Jeffrey Davidow is to join the Institute during "a period of rapid growth, renewed purpose and increased Institute participation and will report directly to the Institute's inter-American Board of Directors." He holds a bachelor's degree in American history from the University of Massachusetts, and a master's degree in American studies from the University of Minnesota.

Davidow had served as visiting fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, and was a visiting scholar at the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies. His State Department career spanned several decades, most recently serving as the US Ambassador to Mexico (1998-2002); Assistant Secretary of State for Latin America (1996-1998), Ambassador to Venezuela (1993-1996); Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Africa (1990-1993) and Ambassador to Zambia (1988-1990) where he worked closely on matters related to the eventual change of government in South Africa.

Davidow has the distinction of being a career ambassador ... one of only three in the United States ... Theodore E. Gildred, former US Ambassador to Argentina says Davidow "is not only a person with in-depth knowledge of Latin America, but he is a brilliant mind who has excellent managerial skills and has worked diligently to improve the operations of the US Department of State."

Gaston Luken, chairman to the board of the Institute of the Americas says "we conducted a thorough search for an individual who could carry the Institute to new heights, increase its exposure and broaden our programs." The Institute of Americas will celebrate its 20th anniversary later this month with the dedication of a new addition to its headquarters on the campus of the University of California, San Diego.