Fmr. State Dept. Exchanges Official Linda Rotunno to Lead ACYPL

WASHINGTON, December 13, 2007 -

The American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL), a bi-partisan, not-for-profit international exchange organization for young political leaders, has appointed former State Department exchanges official Linda Rotunno as its new chief executive officer effective January 2, 2008.

“It’s a great pleasure to welcome Linda as ACYPL’s new CEO,” said ACYPL Board of Trustees Chairman Danny Lee McDonald. “With her passion for international exchanges and her extensive background in development and public service, she’ll be an invaluable asset to ACYPL in the years ahead.”

Rotunno, mostly recently Director of Development at the Center for American Progress, brings to ACYPL over 20 years of management and development experience in the political and non-profit sectors, having directed major donor fundraising operations for political committees, candidates, and think tanks. She also served for eight years in the Clinton administration as Senior Advisor in the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs where she oversaw the Fulbright Exchange Program and other government-sponsored international academic exchanges. In addition, Rotunno spent two years directing professional exchange programs at the Institute of International Education.

Prior to joining the Center for American Progress, Rotunno was Director of Corporate Relations at the Brookings Institution, National Finance Director for then Senator (now Governor) Jon Corzine and Director of Finance at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. She also oversaw major donor outreach at the Democratic National Committee during the successful 1992 presidential cycle.

“One of the greatest attributes of ACYPL is that it is strictly bipartisan,” said Kenneth A. Cutshaw, President of the ACYPL Board of Trustees. “I look forward to working with Linda to further ACYPL’s mission of promoting understanding and cultivating lasting political, economic and cultural relationships among young political leaders and policy makers worldwide.”

Rotunno will take over from Quentin R. Lide, ACYPL’s chief operating officer, who has led the organization in an acting capacity since former CEO Brad Minnick left in July 2007 to become Director of the Office of International Visitors at the U.S. Department of State.

Recognized by the U.S. Congress as a pre-eminent catalyst for introducing rising political leaders and policy makers to international affairs and to each other, the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) is a bi-partisan, not-for-profit international exchange organization based in Washington, DC. Since its founding in 1966, ACYPL has conducted programs and exchanges with more than 90 nations, producing a global network of several thousand alumni. Former ACYPL participants include 38 sitting members of the U.S. Congress, 6 sitting U.S. governors and ambassadors, cabinet ministers and parliamentarians around the globe.