MEET
Jared O. Bell
Diplomat, Educator, and Advocate for Justice
Dr. Bell’s career extends across global institutions such as UNDP, the UN Human Rights Council, Peace Direct, and the American Red Cross, with a focus on governance, atrocity prevention, civil society, and democratic transitions. He has also held academic and advisory roles, including Assistant Professor of International Relations and Post-Conflict Studies at the International University of Sarajevo, Expert Advisor for the Atrocity Intervention Simulation Exercise at Binghamton University’s Institute for Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention, and Visiting Scholar at the University of The Gambia. He currently teaches graduate courses on designing, monitoring, and evaluating international development programs at NYU’s Center for Global Affairs.
Dr. Jared O. Bell is a global expert in post-conflict development and transitional justice, with over 15 years of experience designing, monitoring, and evaluating international development programs across fragile and conflict-affected states. A former Foreign Service Officer (U.S. Diplomat) with USAID, he served in numerous roles in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nicaragua, and at USAID headquarters in Washington, D.C., and previously directed the ABA Rule of Law Initiative’s Central Asia portfolio. His work also spans Central and East Africa, where he advanced human rights awareness, supported civil society advocacy, and strengthened operations for international NGOs
He is the author of Frozen Justice: Lessons from Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Failed Transitional Justice Strategy and has lectured and presented widely across Europe, Africa, and North America on human rights, transitional justice, and peacebuilding. His policy voice has been featured in Al Jazeera Balkans, The Hill, The Peace Chronicle, International Policy Digest, UN Agora Blog, CounterPunch, Dissident Voice, Z-Net, and LA Progressive.
A recipient of multiple U.S. government awards for leadership, innovation, and service, Dr. Bell has also been honored with academic fellowships and research grants, including the James O. Elmore Research Scholarship (2013–2015), a Dissertation Research Grant from Nova Southeastern University (2015), and Erasmus Exchange Grants (2017, 2018). He is further recognized as a UNESCO Policy Lab Expert and Visiting Non-Resident Fellow at Western University’s Centre for Transitional Justice and Post-Conflict Reconstruction.
He holds a Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution, with advanced training from the University of Leiden, the Venice Academy of Human Rights, and the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies.
PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY
Diplomatic Service (USAID)
Served as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nicaragua, and Washington, D.C.
Leadership in NGOs
Directed the ABA Rule of Law Initiative’s Central Asia portfolio and worked with UNDP, the UN Human Rights Council, and Peace Direct.
Humanitarian Engagement
Advanced human rights and civil society advocacy in Central & East Africa with the American Red Cross and other NGOs.