Carol Peasley

Carol Peasley is an independent international development consultant. Most recently, she served as the president and CEO of the Centre for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA) for four years, from 2008-2012.

Prior to her work with CEDPA, she had a highly successful, 30-plus-year career with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), achieving the rank of career minister. She held senior positions in Washington and overseas, including as USAID mission director in both Malawi (1988-93) and the Russian Federation (1999-2003), and as counselor to the agency and senior deputy assistant administrator for Africa in Washington. This position included two years as acting Assistant Administrator for Africa (1996-98). She also had overseas assignments in Nepal, Thailand, and Costa Rica.

After leaving USAID, she continued her strong interest in international development. Besides serving on the board of CEDPA for three years prior to becoming president and CEO, she served on the boards of Opportunities Industrialization Centers International (OICI), the Partnership to Cut Hunger and Poverty in Africa, and the USAID Alumni Association. During that time, she also worked as a senior advisor at the Financial Services Volunteer Corps. She is currently on the board of Enclude (formerly ShoreBank International, a consulting firm focused on inclusive finance).

Ms. Peasley holds a bachelor’s in economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara, a master’s in development economics from Sussex University in the United Kingdom, and a master’s in management from the Stanford Graduate School of Business (Sloan Program).