John B. Hurford Memorial Lecture 2021

Carl Gershman - Speaker, Honoree
Former President, National Endowment for Democracy

Carl Gershman is President of the National Endowment for Democracy, a private, congressionally supported grant-making institution with the mission to strengthen democratic institutions around the world through nongovernmental efforts. 

Prior to assuming the position with the Endowment in 1984, Mr. Gershman was Senior Counselor to the United States Representative to the United Nations, in which capacity he served as the U.S. Representative to the U.N.’s Third Committee that deals with human rights issues, and also as Alternate Representative of the U.S. to the U.N. Security Council.

While at the U.S. Mission to the U.N., Mr. Gershman also served as lead consultant to the National Bipartisan Commission on Central America, and helped draft the final report.

He has received The Order of the Knight’s Cross, Government of Poland; The Distinguished Person for Advancing Democracy in China, Chinese Education Democracy Foundation; International Campaign for Tibet’s 2005 Light of Truth Award; Romania’s National Order of “faithful service;” the Order of Diplomatic Service Merit (Heung-In Medal) of the Republic of Korea; the Diplomacy Star of the Government of Lithuania; the Leadership in International Relations Award of the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute; The Freedom Award of the Atlantic Council, received on behalf of the NED; and, most recently, the Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon from the President of Taiwan.

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