Executive, scholar, educator and diplomat are all titles that describe Marc Ostfield, who becomes the Richard J. Henley and Susan L. Davis Dean of the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership at The City College of New York on Jan. 26, 2026.

Identified through a search process that drew more than 100 applicants from across the country, Ostfield spent more than two decades in government service, including serving as the U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Paraguay from January 2022 to January 2025. As the chief diplomatic representative of the U.S. government to this South American ally and one of only 12 countries to recognize Taiwan rather than China, he oversaw all bilateral relations and public engagement, a 230-person staff, six U.S. Government agencies, and a $20 million operating budget. Among his accomplishments were: advancing U.S. efforts to support Paraguayan institutions advocating for rule of law, and fighting corruption and impunity in their country; managing the completion of a new, $270 million embassy compound in Asunción, the capitol; and reaching an agreement for Paraguay, the world’s eighth largest beef exporter, to resume exporting its beef to the U.S. after a hiatus of many years.

Read more about Marc Ostfield’s appointment in the original announcement on the CCNY website here.