Hon. Mark Kennedy (US Congress, 2001-07 MN), Director of the Wilson Center’s Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition, also serves as an appointed Civic Leader supporting the Secretary of the Air Force and as President Emeritus of the University of Colorado. Kennedy is dedicated to strengthening America’s alliances, and the technology, trade, infrastructure, and energy foundations of its economic and global leadership. Mark applies experiences as a first-generation college graduate, corporate executive, presidentially appointed member of the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations, founder of the Economic Club of Minnesota and author of an Ivy League published book. He has engaged wide cross-sections of society in over 45 countries, including refugee camps, war zones, 50 military bases and three aircraft carriers at sea.
Full Biography
A first-generation college graduate, Mark Kennedy has led at the highest levels of academia, government, and business. He served as President of the University of Colorado and President of the University of North Dakota. He was a graduate school director at George Washington University, taught at Johns Hopkins University and authored Shapeholders: Business Success in the Age of Activism, published by Columbia University. Kennedy served as a United States Congressman (Minnesota) and as a presidentially appointed member of the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations. He spent over two decades engaged in senior roles in global commerce. Kennedy founded the Economic Club of Minnesota. He is a US Air and Space Forces Civic Leader supporting the Secretary of the Air Force and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He earned a bachelor’s degree from St. John’s University and a Master’s in Business Administration with distinction from the University of Michigan.
