William M. LeoGrande

William M. LeoGrande is Professor of Government at American University's School of Public Affairs in Washington, DC, where he specializes in Latin American politics and U.S. foreign policy toward Latin America. Previously serving as Dean of the School of Public Affairs from 2003 to 2012, LeoGrande has established himself as one of the world's leading scholars on U.S.-Cuba relations.

With academic credentials including a PhD, MA, and BA from Syracuse University, Professor LeoGrande has received prestigious fellowships including a Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellowship and a Pew Faculty Fellow in International Affairs. His government service includes work on the staffs of the Democratic Policy Committee of the U.S. Senate and the Democratic Caucus Task Force on Central America of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Professor LeoGrande's research focuses on the complex historical and contemporary dynamics of U.S.-Latin American relations, with particular emphasis on secret negotiations, policy shifts, and the impact of U.S. foreign policy on Cuban society. His publications span academic journals like International Affairs and mainstream media outlets including Foreign Policy, Los Angeles Times, and Foreign Affairs, demonstrating his ability to bridge scholarly research with policy relevance.

His extensive publication record shows a consistent analytical focus on U.S.-Cuba normalization, examining political, economic, and diplomatic dimensions of this process across multiple platforms from scholarly journals to popular media. This multi-channel approach has made his expertise widely accessible to both academic and public audiences.

• Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellow
• Pew Faculty Fellow in International Affairs
• Establishment of the William M. LeoGrande Award and Prize in 2012 honoring scholarly work in Latin American and Latino Studies

As an educator, Professor LeoGrande teaches specialized courses including GOVT-450 Politics in Cuba and doctoral dissertation seminars. His frequent media appearances on C-SPAN and PBS Newshour, along with numerous op-eds, have established him as a leading public intellectual on U.S.-Cuba relations, particularly following the December 17, 2014 normalization announcement.