The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has appointed Erin D. Singshinsuk as its new Executive Director.
Ms. Singshinsuk, acting director of the commission since September, has managed and worked with federal commissions for the past 25 years, specializing in organizations with an international mission. She was Vice President for Management and Chief Financial Officer of the U.S. Institute for Peace. She also served in a support role for federal agencies including USCIRF, the Vietnam Education Foundation, U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency. Her appointment was announced December 20.
The new director will oversee the professional, nonpartisan support staff who with the Commission monitor and analyze religious freedom violations against international human rights standards and make policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress.
Commissioners are appointed by the President and the Congressional leadership of both political parties. The Commission is separate from the State Department, with the State Department’s Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Rabbi David N. Saperstein, a non-voting ex officio member.
USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998.
