Singh Named Swig-Lane Fellow

WASHINGTON, DC -- The fellowship supporting Michael Singh, managing director of The Washington Institute, has been named in recognition of generous, multiyear commitments to the research organization by two longtime members of its board of trustees, Bruce Lane of Bethesda, MD, and Roselyne "Cissie" Swig of San Francisco, CA.

"After years of stalwart support to the Institute, Mrs. Swig and Mr. Lane each made substantial gifts to the Institute in light of the urgent challenges confronting America in the Middle East," said Dr. Robert Satloff, Institute executive director. "We are proud to recognize their leadership by naming the fellowship of one of our most senior scholar-practitioners -- Michael Singh -- in their honor."

As managing director, Mr. Singh is principal deputy to the executive director, supervising the Institute's administrative, financial, and communications operations. In addition, he pursues an active program of policy research, outreach, and engagement, on issues from the Iran nuclear negotiations to the Arab-Israeli peace process to Asia-Middle East relations.
"Bruce Lane and Cissie Swig are deeply committed to the Institute's mission to advance U.S. interests in security and peace in the Middle East," said Mr. Singh. "I am proud that my fellowship has been named in honor of these exemplary trustees of the Institute."

The former National Security Council senior director for the Middle East in the George W. Bush administration, Mr. Singh has been a frequent presence testifying before Congressional committees and contributing to the opinion pages of leading media outlets. A graduate of Princeton and Harvard Business School, the former foreign service officer served as special assistant to secretaries of state Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell and at the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv.

"Supporting The Washington Institute is one of the most effective ways to strengthen American policy in the Middle East," said Mrs. Swig. "I am delighted to have my name attached to the fellowship of such an insightful policy expert as Mike Singh."

"Michael Singh has a brilliant mind, explains the issues clearly, has tremendous experience in policy making, and is extremely well respected,” Mr. Lane said. “It is an honor and a privilege to support Mr. Singh's work in this area."

Cissie Swig is founder and president of ComCon International, a member of the Swig Company board of directors, and founder of Roselyne C. Swig Artsource. Appointed director of the State Department's Art in Embassies Program by President Clinton in 1994, she has devoted decades to philanthropic and community service efforts at the local, national, and global level, with a focus on women's empowerment, social welfare, fine art, political advocacy, U.S.-Israel relations, and education. Bruce Lane, the cofounder of the Meridian Group, a commercial real estate investment and development firm, and Leslie Lane, a professional photographer, have been long-time supporters of efforts to improve peace and security in the Middle East, as well as the arts and education.