Melanie Sanders-Smith is the Vice President for International Strategic Initiatives. Ms. Sanders-Smith first joined IIE in 1998 and from 1999 through 2002 she led IIE’s implementation of the $120 million USAID-funded Development Training 2 program in Egypt. The project, which trained tens of thousands of professionals, focused on development challenges faced by Egypt. She re-joined IIE in her current capacity as Vice President in 2010.
Ms. Sanders-Smith’s experience outside of IIE spans the globe, providing management and technical services to USAID and its implementing partners for over 25 years. Prior to rejoining IIE, she worked at Chemonics International where she was the founding director of their education practice and directed several large-scale projects in the West Bank and the Philippines, was executive vice president at Development Associates, and was a regional officer for USAID based out of South Africa. Ms. Sanders-Smith also served as co-chair for the Society for International Development working group on education for development. She holds an M.A. in Political Science with an international development focus, as well as a B.A. in International Relations from Brigham Young University.
Ms. Sanders-Smith is based in IIE’s Washington office and provides high-level oversight to IIE’s international offices, helping to deliver high-quality service to IIE's programs and sponsors around the world. She is also responsible for developing strategic initiatives, including expansion of the Institute’s international programs, partnerships, and sponsors.
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