Suzanne Palmieri

Suzanne Palmieri is Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems at Arizona State University. She brings expertise in agricultural trade policy, multilateral development organizations, international food assistance and agricultural development. Prior to joining ASU, Palmieri was Senior Fellow at the George Washington University Food institute. From 2016-17, she served as Minister Counselor for Agriculture at the U.S. Mission for the United Nations in Rome, where she worked to reduce global hunger in concert with the Food and Agriculture Organization, World Food Program and International Fund for Agricultural Development. Palmieri served in senior leadership positions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 2009 to 2016, first as Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary where she was lead staff for annual budgets, strategic planning and performance activities, and later as Associate Administrator of the Foreign Agricultural Service where she coordinated USDA’s global food security efforts and trade facilitation work in developing countries. Earlier in her career, Palmieri held positions at Peace Corps, U.S. Agency for International Development, Department of State and the U.S. Senate. Hailing from Arkansas, Palmieri holds a BA from Vassar College and a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin.