The College of Europe is proud to announce the establishment of a new Chair in Transatlantic Trade and Economy, funded by Microsoft, as part of our Master of Arts in Transatlantic Affairs (MATA) program conducted in cooperation with the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. The Chair’s goal is to foster a thorough understanding of the current dynamics and challenges within transatlantic trade and economic relations, including the nexus with global security and geo-economics. The Chair will engage in teaching, research and convening to drive forward meaningful dialogue and contribute to the advancement of discussion on these matters.
New Chairholder Dr. Ian Lesser
Dr. Ian Lesser recently assumed the position of Chairholder of the Chair in Transatlantic Trade and Economy. Currently, Dr. Lesser serves as Vice President of the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) and Executive Director of GMF’s Brussels office. Before joining GMF, he held roles at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the Pacific Council on International Policy and the RAND Corporation. From 1994-1995, Lesser was a member of the US Secretary of State’s policy planning staff, covering Turkey, Southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East peace process. He studied at the University of Pennsylvania, the London School of Economics, and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and received his D.Phil from the University of Oxford.