Thunderbird Names Ambassador Barbara Barrett Interim President

World-renowned global leader selected to head top-ranked business school

GLENDALE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Board of Trustees of Thunderbird School of Global Management, the world’s #1 school of global management, today announced its selection of Ambassador Barbara McConnell Barrett to serve as Interim President. She will replace Thunderbird President Ángel Cabrera, who last month announced his resignation to accept the presidency at George Mason University, the largest university in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

“A quintessential example of the Thunderbird spirit in action, Ambassador Barrett is a seasoned global leader.”

The Trustees cited Ambassador Barrett’s successful leadership as Chairman of Thunderbird (2001-2003), her work with students, faculty, administration, recruiters and donors, as well as her career as a global leader in corporate, government, academic and non-governmental organization settings. From Thunderbird's Glendale, Arizona headquarters, Barrett will manage the school’s worldwide operations, including offices in Geneva, Moscow, Beijing and Almaty, as well as programs and classes in South America, Africa, and dozens of locations throughout the globe and online.

In commenting on the selection, Thunderbird Board Chairman Ann Iverson said, “A quintessential example of the Thunderbird spirit in action, Ambassador Barrett is a seasoned global leader.”

In addition to her roles with Thunderbird, Barrett is an award winning business executive and corporate board member. She served as U.S. Ambassador to Finland, CEO of the American Management Association, a Fellow teaching Leadership at Harvard, President of the International Women’s Forum, Senior Advisor to the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, Chairman of the U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy, and participant with other world leaders at the Global Leadership Foundation, Club of Madrid and World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

About her appointment, Ambassador Barrett said: “Ángel Cabrera’s inspirational presidency has positioned Thunderbird for continued growth and success. No institution in the world can match Thunderbird’s achievements over its 65 years devoted to educating global leaders who create sustainable prosperity worldwide. I recognize what a privilege it is to serve as Interim President of Thunderbird, a global management icon.”

Ambassador Barrett has a long history of service to Thunderbird. In addition to being the first woman Chairman of the Board, she is a member of the Thunderbird Board of Fellows. Among the many top international leaders who have spoken at Thunderbird at Barrett’s request are: Canadian Prime Minister Kim Campbell, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and most recently former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Barrett founded Thunderbird’s Project Artemis, a broadly emulated program to train and mentor Afghan women entrepreneurs.

Outgoing President Dr. Ángel Cabrera said: "Barbara Barrett embodies what Thunderbird is about. Her extensive background across international business, public service, philanthropy and diplomacy is unmatched. And she combines in a unique way the attributes of global mindset, enterprising spirit and global citizenship that define what it means to be a global leader.”

In other roles, Ambassador Barrett is CEO of Triple Creek Guest Ranch, a Montana Hideaway – the #1 inn in the U.S. and Canada, and among the top hotels in the world. She also serves on the governing boards of RAND, Aerospace Corporation, Smithsonian and Center for International Private Enterprise. Barrett served in top aviation, commerce, trade and defense policy roles to three presidents of the U.S. Through her humanitarian work, business, teaching, advisory roles and diplomacy, she has traveled to over 150 nations.

Transition from President Cabrera to Ambassador Barrett will occur at Thunderbird Commencement on April 27, 2012 at the Thunderbird Events Center on the Arizona campus. Barrett will serve until a new Thunderbird president assumes office. A search for a new permanent president is underway.

Known for its “Thunderbird Mystique,” the Glendale, Arizona graduate school is the oldest and largest graduate management school in the world. Throughout its history, Thunderbird has been recognized as the best in its field, offering a cutting-edge curriculum taught by faculty recognized as global thought leaders in their areas of expertise. Thunderbird attracts the world’s brightest globally minded students. Each year, more than 60 countries are represented among the student body.

About Thunderbird School of Global Management

Thunderbird is the world’s No. 1-ranked school of international business with more than 65 years of experience in developing leaders with the global mindset, business skills and social responsibility necessary to create real, sustainable value for their organizations, communities and the world. Dedicated to preparing students to be global leaders and committed global citizens, Thunderbird was the first graduate business school to adopt an official Professional Oath of Honor. Thunderbird is sought out by graduate students, working professionals and companies worldwide seeking to gain the leadership skills they need to succeed in today’s global economy. For more about Thunderbird, please visit: www.thunderbird.edu.

Thunderbird’s offerings

Thunderbird offers a wide range of global management graduate degrees and certificate programs for full-time students, working professionals, distance learners and companies, including Full-time, Executive, Evening and Distance-learning MBAs, a Master of Science, a Master of Arts and a comprehensive suite of executive education programs. The school is also home of the Thunderbird Knowledge Network, the school’s hub of research and cutting-edge global business knowledge that includes six centers of excellence focused on cultures and languages, global mindset, ethics and corporate citizenship, global financial services, global private equity and global entrepreneurship.

For more information on the Presidential Transition process at Thunderbird School of Global Management, please contact Frank Neville, Vice President of Global Communications and Public Affairs, at [e-mail] or [phone].

For general information on Thunderbird School of Global Management, please contact Russ Phaneuf, Thunderbird’s Senior Director of Corporate Communications, at [e-mail] or [phone] or Samantha Novick, Thunderbird’s Public Relations and New Media Specialist, at [e-mail] or [phone].

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