Claire Sechler Merkel

About Claire Sechler Merkel

Claire Sechler Merkel served as Senior Director, Arizona Programs for the McCain Institute at Arizona State University from its inception to 2023. Responsible for McCain Institute programming in Arizona including combatting human trafficking projects, she served as co-chair of the Arizona Human Trafficking Council and has worked closely with Mrs. Cindy McCain and the Arizona Human Trafficking Council since its creation in 2013. She served as director of friends and family and chief of staff to Mrs. McCain during the 2008 Presidential Election campaign, and worked for McCain for President Previously, she served as legislative assistant and special assistant to U.S. Senator John McCain and campaign coordinator for John McCain’s first U.S. Senate Campaign. Sechler Merkel was associate director in the White House Office of Cabinet Affairs for President George H.W. Bush, senior intergovernmental officer at the U.S. Department of Labor and regional director for Eastern and Central Europe at the International Republican Institute. She founded Sechler Merkel International to provide consulting to countries and companies in Eastern and Central Europe and was most proud to work with Bulgaria on their successful bid to join the NATO alliance. Sechler Merkel holds a degree in public policy, with distinction, from Stanford University and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, past President of the Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations, and serves as a Melikian Center Advisory Board member, US Global Leadership Coalition Arizona Advisory Board member and on Project C.U.R.E.\'s Ambassador Board.

Experience

1. Chair of the Board of Directors

   Phoenix Committee On Foreign Relations Pcfr

   Jul 2023 — Present · Phoenix, AZ, US

   Leadership of PCFR\'s Board of Directors in responsible growth and providing excellent programming to members on major foreign policy and international issues. PCFR\'s mission is to increase Arizona’s global prominence by providing forums that explore critical foreign policy issues and build enduring international connections while providing members with unique opportunities to interact with leading international experts. Standing on the shoulders of my predecessors in this role to make PCFR stronger, more relevant and integral to the greater Phoenix community.

Education

• Stanford University

  Bachelor's degree