Rita E. Hauser is President of The Hauser Foundation and Co-Chair of the American Strategy Program at the New America Foundation. She is an international lawyer and of counsel to the New York City law firm, Stroock & Stroock & Lavan where she was a senior partner for more than twenty years. Dr. Hauser was previously appointed by President George W. Bush to the President's Intelligence Advisory Board and to the Intelligence Oversight Board.

Known for her public service and philanthropic work, she is interested in international conflict resolution, security and human rights. Dr. Hauser chairs The International Peace Academy (a research organization affiliated with the United Nations) and is Chair of the Advisory Board of the International Crisis Group. She was the Founding Chair of The Advisory Board of the RAND Center for Middle East Public Policy. She is a director of many organizations, including: The International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, the RAND Corporation, and the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. She holds advanced degrees from the University of Strasbourg in France, Harvard Law School, NYU School of Law, and the University of Paris Law Faculty.

In April of 1997 she and her husband founded The Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations at Harvard University, and she is Chair of its Advisory Board. The Hausers participated in the initiation and are the principal benefactors of the Hauser Global Law School Program at New York University which supports the Global Scholars Program and Visiting Global Faculty. It is the centerpiece of the Law School 's global initiative.

Video of this event is available at right; an MP3 audio recording can be downloaded below.