Oxfam Chair appointed to State Department position

WASHINGTON DC — International development and relief organization Oxfam America congratulates its Chair of the Board, Ambassador Wendy Sherman, for her confirmation as Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs. Sherman was confirmed late Thursday by the Senate.

Current Vice-Chair Barry D. Gaberman, a longtime Ford Foundation executive, will take over as interim Chair while the Oxfam America board engages in a search for a new Chair.

“We’ve been very fortunate to experience Wendy Sherman’s leadership and political savvy on our Board,” said Raymond C. Offenheiser, president of Oxfam America. "From famine in Somalia to dramatic cuts in Congress of foreign aid, Wendy will have plenty of work cut out for her, but we are convinced she will deliver for the world’s poor and America’s foreign policy interests in her new position.”

Ambassador Sherman previously served as Vice Chair of Albright Stonebridge Group and was a member of the Investment Committee of Albright Capital Management. She also served as Counselor and chief troubleshooter for the State Department, as well as Special Advisor to President Clinton and Policy Coordinator on North Korea.  From 1993 to 1996, under Secretary of State Warren Christopher, she was Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs. 

Gaberman retired from the Ford Foundation in 2006 after more than three decades of service. During his tenure, Mr. Gaberman served in positions ranging from Assistant Program Officer to Deputy Vice President for the U.S. to Senior Vice President of the organization. In addition, he has served on ten philanthropic boards. Since retiring, Mr. Gaberman has advised the Foundation Center and been a Distinguished Visiting Professor in the Gerhart Center on Philanthropy and Civic Engagement at American University in Cairo teaching a course he helped design on the role of philanthropy in society.