Ann-Louise Colgan is the special advisor to the president at the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP). Prior to this, she served as the director of public education . The work of this department is grounded in USIP’s original congressional mandate and is dedicated to increasing the American public’s understanding of international conflicts and nonviolent approaches that can be used to resolve them. The department extends USIP’s longstanding educational work to new audiences, working with students and teachers across the U.S. and developing broader public education initiatives to demonstrate and advance this country’s commitment to peace. 

Ann-Louise joined USIP in 2010 after more than a decade working at organizations focused on international human rights issues, peace and conflict, and U.S. foreign policy. Her background includes research and policy work, as well as extensive experience in communications and public education. From human rights organizations to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, where she managed the high-level Genocide Prevention Task Force and subsequently served as director of the Museum's Academy for Genocide Prevention, Ann-Louise developed and implemented plans to engage policymakers and to educate a broad public audience on issues of peace and conflict and other global priorities.
She holds a master's degree in international studies and a bachelor's degree in European Studies, and she is certified as a Teacher of English as a Foreign (Second) Language.