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Farah Pandith

First-ever Special Representative to Muslim Communities

Farah Pandith is an author, foreign policy strategist, and former diplomat. A world-leading expert and pioneer in countering violent extremism, she is the author of the book How We Win: How Cutting-Edge Entrepreneurs, Political Visionaries, Enlightened Business Leaders, and Social Media Mavens Can Defeat the Extremist Threat. She is a frequent media commentator and public speaker and has written for publications including The Economist, The Washington Post, and The New York Times. Farah served as a political appointee under three presidents – most recently as the first-ever Special Representative to Muslim Communities, serving both Secretary Clinton and Secretary Kerry. She has served on the National Security Council, at the U.S. Department of State, and at the U.S. Agency for International Development in various senior roles. She was appointed to the Department of Homeland Security’s Advisory Council, chairing its countering violent extremism task force. She is currently a senior advisor with the Anti-Defamation League, adjunct senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, and adjunct professor at Georgetown University. She serves on several boards including Mercy Corps, We Are Family Foundation, and The Asian American Foundation. In fall 2020, the Muhammad Ali Center named Pandith the first-ever Muhammad Ali Global Peace Laureate for her proven track record of and commitment to promoting diversity, cohesion, and respect. Farah was born in India and raised in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.