Charlotte McDowell (CLAS ’05) is an international relations professional whose career spans public health, democratic governance, and human rights, with a focus on inter-institutional cooperation to achieve social impact. She currently serves as External Relations Advisor at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), where she engages governments, philanthropic organizations, and private sector leaders to drive regional health priorities in global and regional fora. Previously, Charlotte led Canada’s Americas regional development office in Washington, D.C., overseeing a CAD $140M portfolio, leading policy negotiations, and conducting institutional oversight and reform efforts with partners. Earlier, at the Organization of American States, she directed election observation missions across Latin America and the Caribbean and secured funding partnerships with the EU, Canada, and the U.S.

When asked about her time at CLAS, McDowell said, “Completing the CLAS M.A. in Latin American Studies was a formative experience that cemented my ability to engage complex regional issues from multiple angles. The program’s interdisciplinary grounding in political, economic, historic and cultural perspectives provided me with analytical skills needed to shape effective policy and program decisions. Furthermore, CLAS’s blend of academic and practitioner instructors inculcated a deep appreciation for how evidence and diplomacy inform each other. Most importantly though, classmates from the program became life-long friends, colleagues and partners in a lasting network that continues to enrich both my professional and personal lives.”