WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Dr. Jim Barnhart was sworn in as the new United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director for Albania.  Deputy Administrator Donald Steinberg administered the oath of office.

In his role as Mission Director, Dr. Barnhart will have primary responsibility for supporting Albania’s progress toward European Union accession, overseeing programs that aim to strengthen democratic institutions and governance, and accelerate private sector-led growth.

Dr. Barnhart most recently served as Mission Director for Lebanon. Prior, Dr. Barnhart was Associate Mission Director for Economic Growth and Education and the Acting Economic Growth Office Director in Pakistan. Dr. Barnhart also served in USAID’s Jordan Mission managing the Office of Economic Opportunity and in Zambia.

Before joining USAID, Dr. Barnhart worked in Egypt and the West Bank/Gaza, supporting programs for educational and economic development.  He coordinated activities for an American NGO that operated in Armenia, Turkey, and Jerusalem.  He traveled throughout the Middle East, including Syria and Oman, and studied Arabic in Damascus and at Bir Zeit University outside of Ramallah.  

Dr. Barnhart has a Ph.D. in economics from Georgia State University.   He studied economic development in the Middle East as part of his Master’s Degree from the Johns Hopkins University School for Advanced International Studies (SAIS).  He received his B.A. degree from Furman University.