Mark Hannah

As CEO of the Institute for Global Affairs, Mark Hannah leads the nonprofit’s mission help diverse audiences understand complex international issues without partisan or ideological bias. He is focused on expanding the organization’s programmatic offerings and impact, developing strategic and mission-aligned philanthropic partnerships, and driving sustainable revenue growth.

Mark created and hosted IGA’s popular foreign policy podcast “None Of The Above” for six seasons, and multimedia explainer videos produced in partnership with The New York Times and NowThis have reached millions of people—helping IGA make complex geopolitical topics accessible through innovative formats which meet audiences where they are.

Mark’s Ph.D. from USC’s Annenberg School focused on how media freedom and commercialization inform democratic practices globally—insights which directly inform his approach to fostering informed public understanding of geopolitical issues. He previously led an IGA program exploring pragmatic alternatives in US foreign policy and co-teaches with Ian Bremmer an “applied geopolitics” course at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. He previously taught grad students at New York University, The New School, and Queens College. 

Mark’s writing on international affairs has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and Foreign Policy, and his research has been cited by leading publications including The Economist and Foreign Affairs. He has appeared regularly on MSNBC, CNBC, FOX News, and NPR programs, and he is author of the book about Barack Obama’s legacy, The Best “Worst President.”

He began his career working on presidential campaigns and White House operations, including advance work for then-Vice President Biden’s international visits. He has served on the board of a national media literacy education organization, and maintains affiliations with the Council on Foreign Relations and Truman National Security Project. A native Cape Codder, he studied at the University of Pennsylvania (B.A.) and Columbia University (M.S.), and lives in Connecticut with his wife and two sons.