WASHINGTON, D.C. — At the recommendation of the Board of Trustees, Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden, announced the appointment of Jane Sargus as Executive Director of Open World Leadership Center, effective January 8, 2018. She replaces Ambassador John O’Keefe, who will now serve as Counsel to Open World’s Board of Trustees.

Ms. Sargus brings 40 years of federal experience to the Open World Leadership Center. Having served as Open World’s Program Administrator and Budget Officer from 2008 to 2012, Ms. Sargus crafted the congressional budget justification for the Appropriations Committee in the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. With her financial management experience and a deep understanding of international programs in the Legislative Branch, Ms. Sargus performed in-depth analysis and research on multiple and complex issues related to budget formulation for a program with both national and international impact. From 2012 to 2017, Ms. Sargus rose to serve as Open World’s Deputy Executive Director to manage day-to-day operations for all aspects of the agency and to coordinate its logistical contract of $7 million annually.

Prior to Open World, Ms. Sargus served as a Budget Analyst in the Office of the Chief Financial Officer of the Library of Congress. Her work supported the Library’s $400 million budget request for congressional oversight committees. In the Library’s Congressional Research Service (CRS), Ms. Sargus provided critical fiscal support for the Frost Special Task Force on the Development of Parliamentary Institutions in Eastern and Central Europe while also serving on the Financial Management Team overseeing CRS’s annual appropriation. Ms. Sargus spent five years in the Library’s John W. Kluge Center managing all aspects of financial operations for more than 20 funds totaling over $71 million.

Open World Leadership Center is a Legislative Branch agency established in May 1999 by Congress to support bipartisan outreach to over 15 countries through 10-day professional exchange programs targeting emerging Eurasian leaders. Open World was created in response to a speech given by Former Librarian of Congress, Dr. James H. Billington, to senior Members of Congress on the future of Russia.

In 2000, Congress created a separate Legislative Branch entity, Open World Leadership Center, to manage this highly productive exchange program, which initially focused on Russia. As part of Open World’s Board of Trustees directed expansion of congressional outreach, other post-Soviet countries could participate in the program in 2003. In 2004, Congress extended its eligibility to any country designated by Open World’s public-private Board of Trustees.

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