WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 28, 2023) — The McCain Institute at Arizona State University (ASU) today announced former U.S. Congressman Tom Malinowski has joined the McCain Institute as a John S. McCain Senior Fellow. Rep. Malinowski most recently represented New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District for two terms (2019-2023). He previously served as the assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights, and labor under President Barack Obama and as the Washington director of Human Rights Watch.
As a fellow, Rep. Malinowski will contribute to the McCain Institute’s work to uphold Senator McCain’s legacy as a champion for democracy and human rights. Among other things, he will join the McCain Institute’s Task Force on Defeating Disinformation Attacks on U.S. Democracy.
Rep. Malinowski’s experience as a human rights advocate includes speaking out strongly against the use of torture, alongside Senator John McCain, supporting repressed people around the globe, and promoting women’s rights, specifically in Afghanistan. Rep. Malinowski was also an outspoken champion of expanded rights and democratic reforms in Myanmar before the January 2021 military coup.
Rep. Malinowski will also contribute to the McCain Institute’s work on security in Europe and the Indo-Pacific regions, which is well-aligned with his portfolio as the former vice chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
“I’m fortunate to have known and worked alongside Tom Malinowski for years. His record as a leader, promoting human rights and defending democracy is unmatched and will be extremely valuable to our work,” said McCain Institute Executive Director Dr. Evelyn Farkas. “Few in Washington better understands, personally or professionally, the urgency with which the United States must lead in strengthening our democracy at home and around the world. We look forward to utilizing Tom’s expertise to help us address some of the most challenging human rights issues facing America and the world today.”
“I’m very honored to join the McCain Institute as the John S. McCain Senior Fellow,” said Rep. Tom Malinowski. “Having worked with Senator McCain to strengthen America’s leadership for human rights around the world and to end our government’s use of torture after the 9/11 attacks, it is humbling to begin work at an Institute that he and his family helped found and that seeks to advance his model of character-driven leadership.”
Rep. Malinowski was born in communist Poland during the height of the Cold War and immigrated to the United States as a young child. From 1994 to 2001, Malinowski served as a speechwriter for Secretaries of State Warren Christopher and Madeleine Albright and as a senior director on President Hillary Clinton’s National Security Council. As chief Washington advocate for Human Rights Watch, he worked with Sen. John McCain to end America’s use of torture after the 9/11 attacks. He later served as President Obama’s assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights, and labor, leading America’s efforts to promote human rights around the world. Rep. Malinowski received his B.A. in political science from the University of California, Berkeley, and earned a Master of Philosophy from St. Anthony’s College, Oxford, where he was a Rhodes Scholar.
To view Rep. Malinowski’s full bio, click here.
