WASHINGTON, March 30, 2021 – The Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM) at the George Washington University announced the appointment of Michele Manatt and Stephanie Peters to the school’s Board of Advisors.
"I am thrilled to be joining the GSPM community at this inflection point when we are still working to understand all the forces that roiled our politics, public discourse, and attitudes in the 2020 election and throughout the pandemic," said Manatt.
“As a GSPM alumna, I am pleased to join the Board at such a dynamic time because the need for diverse and purposeful political leadership and management is great,” said Peters. “The 21st century requires a global growth mindset. GSPM is well-positioned to offer students the skills needed to solve problems creatively and holistically.”
Manatt is a political strategist and commentator with expertise in American politics and U.S.-Latin American relations. A fluent Spanish speaker, Manatt served as director of legislative affairs at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and as a senior policy advisor to several Assistant Secretaries of State for Latin American and Caribbean Affairs during the presidency of Bill Clinton. Prior to joining the Clinton administration, she served as a professional staff member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Manatt’s nonprofit experience includes leadership roles at the Meridian International Center and the James Renwick Alliance. She is the daughter of the late Democratic National Committee chairman Charles T. Manatt, a generous supporter of GSPM.
Peters is the senior director of congressional government affairs for Microsoft Corporation and a 1997 graduate of GSPM. Her policy portfolio includes patent reform, trade policy, immigration, STEM education, cyber-security, and telecommunications. Peters has been a key member of Microsoft’s Capitol Hill team since joining the company in 2009. Prior to joining Microsoft, Peters was a partner at the Washington, D.C. law firm Patton Boggs, where she represented multinational corporations, trade associations and foreign sovereign clients. She began her career in the public sector, notably serving as counsel for the Democratic members of the House Judiciary Committee from 1995 to 2000. She has served on the boards of the U.S. branch of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Women’s Refugee Commission, the Ohio State University Alumni Association, and Global WIN.
“I am delighted to welcome both Michele and Stephanie to the Board of Advisors. Both have impressive political credentials and long histories with GSPM,” said GSPM director Dr. Lara Brown. “Their perspectives on leadership and public service will benefit our students and faculty alike. We are grateful for their commitment and we are excited to have them engage with our school.”