Michelle Bekkering

Michelle Bekkering, National Engagement Director

Michelle Bekkering currently serves as National Engagement Director for the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. Prior to joining USGLC, Bekkering was nominated by the President and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate as an Assistant Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). A passionate advocate for women’s empowerment and equality, Bekkering was a leading architect of the White House led Women’s Global Development and Prosperity Initiative (W-GDP); a whole of U.S. Government initiative to economically empower 50 million women by 2025. Bekkering was awarded a Superior Accomplishment Award by USAID for her leadership.

Prior to joining USAID, Bekkering served twelve years at the International Republican Institute. During her tenure at IRI, Bekkering provided leadership on democracy, rights and governance initiatives in Washington, D.C. and abroad, including serving as IRI’s country director based in Indonesia. She also served on the Congressional Advisory Council of the U.S. House of Representative’s House Democracy Partnership (HDP) program.

Bekkering has served in numerous positions in the U.S. Government. In addition to her service at USAID, she served in the National Security Council under President George W. Bush and worked on Capitol Hill as an aide to Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (CA-46).

A proud native of Iowa, Michelle graduated from Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa and was honored with its Distinguished Alumni Award in 2015. Michelle, her husband Mark and daughter Hadley currently reside in Washington, DC.


 

PRESS RELEASE: USGLC Taps Michelle Bekkering as National Engagement Director

May 24, 2021 | WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC) today announced Michelle Bekkering as National Engagement Director, leading the Coalition’s strategic outreach to stakeholders across the country and building alliances in support of America’s global engagement and investments in diplomacy and development. Read More →

Posts by Michelle Bekkering

  • April 5, 2022
    Blog

    Economically Empowering Women: A Chat with the DFC’s Algene Sajery

    Michelle Bekkering | April 5, 2022

    The DFC is America’s premier development finance institution. Partnering with the private sector and U.S. government agencies like the U.S. Agency for International Development, the DFC works to identify and fund solutions to the challenges the...

  • August 27, 2021
    Blog

    It’s Time for All-Hands on Deck in Afghanistan

    Michelle Bekkering, Dana Bruce | August 27, 2021

    Over the past two weeks, the world has watched the unfolding chaos in Afghanistan with mounting horror; horror that turned into terror yesterday with the deadly attack on the Kabul airport. There will be plenty of time for Monday morning quarterbacking later, but for our citizens, partners and allies in Afghanistan, the clock is ticking. We must focus on the immediate steps to safely evacuate those who want to leave and protect those who stay from Taliban reprisal. To accomplish this mission will take the combined efforts of our public and private sectors.