Agents of Peace

By Caitlin Jacobs, "Graham, Rechenbach and Shashaani join Board of Directors of The Faith & Politics Institute" - The Faith & Politics Institute - Washington D.C., USA
Wednesday, December 10, 2008

The Faith & Politics Institute announces today that Ambassador Thomas Graham Jr., CWA Secretary-Treasurer Jeff Rechenbach and Dr. Avideh Shashaani were elected to the Institute’s Board of Directors on December 9, 2008.

Ambassador Thomas Graham Jr., currently Executive Chairman of the Board of Thorium Power, served as a senior U.S. diplomat involved in the negotiation of every major international arms control and non-proliferation agreement for the past 30 years and is considered one of the world’s leading authorities on international arms control. He is currently Chair of the Bipartisan Security Group, and is personally committed to furthering bipartisan cooperation in U.S. government.

Jeff Rechenbach was elected Secretary-Treasurer of the Communications Workers of America in 2008, succeeding Barbara J. Easterling, who was also on The Faith & Politics Institute’s Board of Directors. “The Institute has been grateful for the support of CWA over the years, and we are pleased to carry on this relationship through Jeff Rechenbach,” said Rev. J. Cletus Kiley, president of The Faith & Politics Institute.

Avideh Shashaani, Ph.D. is the founder and president of the Fund for the Future of our Children, an organization that encourages and empowers children and youth to be agents of peace in local and global environments. Dr. Shashaani works to promote intercultural and interfaith understanding through lectures, workshops, and publications. She has translated ten Persian mystical texts into English and holds a doctorate in Sufi studies.

“The Faith & Politics Institute is thrilled to have three such distinguished individuals to help guide us through this poignant time in the history of U.S. government,” said Kiley. “Their contributions will ensure the Institute’s success in the coming years.”

Envisioning a world where all political leaders draw upon their faith to strengthen their leadership, The Faith & Politics Institute is a nonpartisan, interfaith organization, founded in 1991 to help public officials stay in touch with their deeper calling to public service.