Colleen Thouez

Director at Open Society Foundations

Dr. Colleen Thouez is a distinguished professional and academic with a robust background in international relations, migration, and global governance. Here are some key points about her role and credentials:

Roles and Affiliations

Dr. Thouez is a Visiting Faculty member at Bard College, specifically focusing on Migration and Mobility within the MA in Global Studies program.2 4 6
She is the Director of the Welcoming and Inclusive Cities Division at the Open Society Foundations (OSF).3
She has served as Senior Training and Research Advisor at the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and held various leadership positions within the UN, including heading the main training arm of the UN in New York.1 3
She is also an adjunct professorial lecturer at American University’s School of International Service and has lectured at the University of Geneva.3 4

Professional Experience

Dr. Thouez has a long history of working with the United Nations, including serving as deputy director for policy of the first migration commission established by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and advising the Secretary-General’s representative on migration, Sir Peter Sutherland.3
She has been instrumental in bolstering cities’ influence in international policy-making on migration and refugee protection, founding the first inter-state mayors’ advocacy group in 2014 and co-founding the Mayors Migration Council in 2018.3

Education and Publications

Dr. Thouez holds a Ph.D. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, and an M.A. from McGill University.3
She has published extensively on migration governance, including articles in the Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies and Global Governance: A Review of Multilateralism and International Organizations.3

Other Initiatives

Dr. Thouez is the Founder and Director of the Refugee Resettlement Initiative (RRI) at the National Association of Higher Education Systems (NASH).5
Her work has been featured in various media outlets such as Reuters, Associated Press, TED Ideas, and WNYC.3