Catherine Bertini

Catherine Ann Bertini (born 1950) is an American public servant. She has become perhaps best known for her work in highlighting the pivotal role of women in food distribution, pioneering the use of food aid to empower women and girls, and ensuring that women are represented fully at all levels throughout World Food Programme (WPF).

Bertini earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University at Albany, The State University of New York in 1971. She has served in several public service positions including United Nations Under Secretary General in Management and Executive Director of World Food Programme. She is the winner of World Food Prize in 2003 and The Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy.

She is currently a professor of public administration at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University and a senior fellow in agricultural development at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Bertini met photographer Thomas Haskell at a class reunion, and the two wed shortly after. Recently, after almost twenty years of marriage, the two officially separated. Bertini is rumored to be considering a run for NY state office in 2009.

Professional Affiliations

• Global Humanitarian Forum, Board member
• United Nations System Standing Committee on Nutrition, Chair
• Board of International Food and Agricultural Development, USAID Presidential Appointee
• Trilateral Commission, Member
• Council on Foreign Relations, Member
• National Academy of Public Administration, Fellow
• American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Fellow
• Rockefeller College, University at Albany, Member of Advisory Board
• Clinton School of Public Service, University of Arkansas, Member of Advisory Board
• Civic Leadership Program, University of Illinois, Senior Fellow
• Save the Children USA, Member of Board of Directors

Honorary Degrees

• Doctor of Science, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
• Doctor of Humane Letters, State University of New York, Cortland, New York
• Doctorate, Slovak Agricultural University, Nitra, Slovak Republic
• Doctor of Science, Pine Manor College, Boston, Massachusetts
• Doctor of Humane Letters, American University of Rome, Italy
• Doctor of Public Service, John Cabot University, Rome Italy
• Doctor of Humane Letters, Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois
• Doctor of Humane Letters, Dakota Wesleyan University, Mitchell, South Dakota
• Doctor of Humane Letters, University of South Carolina, Spartanburg, SC
• Doctor of Humane Letters, Colgate University, Hamilton, New York

Selected Awards and Recognition

• World Food Prize Laureate 2003
• The Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy
• One of the “World’s Most Powerful Women,” The Times of London 1996
• Association of African Journalists, Prize of Excellence
• World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, World Citizen Award
• American Academy of Pediatrics, Excellence in Public Service
• American Public Welfare Association, Leadership in Public Service
• Chicago Council on Foreign Relations, Global Leadership Award
• Medallion of the University of Albany

Selected Past Board Service

• United Nations, Chief Executives’ Board Member and Chair, Management Committee, NY
• United Nations International School Board of Trustees, Chair, NY
• Henri Dunant Center for Humanitarian Dialogue, Board Member, Geneva, Switzerland
• Commodity Credit Corporation , Presidential Appointee, Washington D.C.
• Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Board Member, Chicago, Il
• Illinois State Scholarship Commission, Member, Deerfield, Il

External links

• Professor Bertini in Maxwell School
• Most recent biography on Maxwell School website
• Most recent CV on Maxwell School website
• Biography on the UN website (accurate as of November 2002)
• World Food Prize winner
• UN Biographical Note SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS CATHERINE BERTINI OF UNITED STATES AS NEW UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR MANAGEMENT