Katharine Bartels

Katharine (Kit) Bartels is a seasoned professional with extensive experience at the U.S. Department of State, currently serving as Deputy Director of the Office of American Spaces. Responsibilities include supervising a team managing relations with over 18,000 members of the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) and overseeing membership activities such as webinars and conferences. Previous roles encompass Branch Chief for the Fulbright Middle East and North Africa Program, Chief of Staff for the Educational and Cultural Affairs Bureau, and Deputy Director for the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board Secretariat. Additional experience includes risk assessment as a Regional Threat Analyst and program management at the Smithsonian Institution, along with a military officer role in the United States Air Force. Academic credentials include a Master of Arts in Near Eastern Studies from the University of Arizona and a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics from Miami University.