Joan Polaschik Adjunct Senior Professorial Lecturer SIS | Foreign Policy & Global Security

Degrees: BA - University of Virginia
MSFS - Georgetown University
Bio: Ambassador (retired) Joan Polaschik served for 31 years as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State. As Director of the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) from 2022 until 2025, Ambassador Polaschik created and led a multi-year reform plan that maximized the impact and reach of the U.S. government’s diplomatic training academy. She also served as Dean and Deputy Director of the Foreign Service Institute from 2020 until 2022, a deep dive into diplomatic training that informed her approach to learner-driven reform.

Ambassador Polaschik’s diplomatic career focused on the Middle East and North Africa, with assignments as U.S. Ambassador to Algeria, Deputy Chief of Mission in Libya, and Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, among others. She has deep expertise in fragile states, conflict resolution, crisis leadership, and risk management, along with a proven record of strengthening institutions, developing leaders, and inspiring teams.

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