Ambassador Mary Ann Peters Joins the Faculty of the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies

ATLANTA—Ambassador (ret.) Mary Ann Peters, former CEO of The Carter Center, has joined Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies as an Ambassador in Residence and professor of practice. Her engagement will center on international and domestic projects that draw on her expertise in global policy issues centering on public health, conflict resolution, democracy and human rights.

“We are honored to have Ambassador Peters join AYSPS. She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the big issues of the day—governance, international relations, and civil and human rights,” said Dean Sally Wallace. “She will play a critical role in helping shape AYSPS/GSU’s public service academy and sharing her expertise in the classroom.”

Peters was CEO of The Carter Center founded by former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn, from September 2014 until her retirement in June 2020. Prior to joining the center, Peters served as provost at the U.S. Naval War College and was dean of academics at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

A career diplomat for 30 years, Peters served as U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh, leading the Embassy response to the September 11 attack and earning a Presidential Meritorious Service Award for her work. She was the Deputy Chief of Mission in Ottawa, Canada, and director for European and Canadian affairs on the National Security Council staff, where she worked on the Northern Ireland peace process. Her earlier postings include Sofia, Bulgaria, Moscow during the Soviet era, Rangoon and Mandalay in Burma (now Myanmar) and Frankfurt, Germany. She has attained professional competency in the French, Italian, German, Bulgarian, Russian and Burmese languages.

Peters will work closely with the Andrew Young School’s International Center for Public Policy (ICePP) as well as the Dean’s Office. Jorge Martinez-Vazquez directs the Public Finance Research Cluster, which includes ICePP.

“We are looking forward to working with Mary Ann. Her incredibly rich international experience will become a great asset for all ICePP activities,” he said. 

Peters holds a B.A. from Santa Clara University and an M.A. from The Johns Hopkins University – Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and Women in International Security and serves on the boards of Project HOPE and the Rotary Club of Atlanta. She has published numerous op-eds and co-authored a textbook chapter on the use of diplomacy in counterterrorism.