September 21, 2009

Former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo joins SAIS

Former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo has joined the Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies as a distinguished visiting scholar. Toledo, who led the country from 2001 to 2006, is a fellow at the school’s International Development Program.

“We are honored by President Toledo’s presence at SAIS, and we look forward to sharing in his exciting efforts to bring former presidents of his region together to promote democratic practice,” said Jessica P. Einhorn, dean of SAIS. “Toledo’s background as a scholar and his current activism are well-suited to the strengths of SAIS and the interests of our students.”

Prior to becoming president, Toledo worked at the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the United Nations and other international organizations. He also has served on the faculty of two of Peru’s leading graduate schools, ESAN (Escuela de Administracion de Negocios para Graduados) and the Universidad del Pacifico. Toledo holds master’s degrees in education and economics and a doctorate in the economics of human resources from Stanford University.

Most recently, Toledo was a scholar at Stanford, where he was distinguished visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution, Payne Distinguished Visiting Lecturer and consulting professor at the Center for Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies. His most recent book, Las cartas sobre la mesa (The Cards on the Table), covers his political career.

Francis Fukuyama, director of the International Development Program, said, “We are very much looking forward to having President Toledo as part of the SAIS and IDEV community. He has been a champion of democracy in Peru and is a leader our students will benefit greatly from interacting with.”

Avi Tuschman, the international projects coordinator for Toledo’s Global Center for Development and Democracy, will be joining him at SAIS.