Director, Civitas International Programs
Center for Civic Education
Calabasas, California

Richard A. Nuccio was appointed director of Civitas international programs at the Center for Civic Education in April 2003. The Center for Civic Education is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational corporation dedicated to fostering the development of informed, responsible participation in civic life by citizens committed to values and principles fundamental to American constitutional democracy. The Center specializes in civic/citizenship education, law–related education, and international educational exchange programs in more than 70 countries.

Prior to joining the Center for Civic Education, Dr. Nuccio held a number of senior foreign policy positions in non–governmental organizations and the US Executive and Legislative branches. He served as founding director of the Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy, Newport, RI (2000-2003), as special adviser to President Clinton for Cuba (1995-96), senior foreign policy adviser to Senator Robert Torricelli (retired) (D-NJ) (1997-98), and as a professional staff member of the House foreign affairs committee (1991-93). Holding a Masters degree in Latin American studies from Stanford University and a doctorate in political science from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, he has taught at a number of universities including Williams College, Bennington College, the School of Advanced International Studies of Johns Hopkins University, and Georgetown University.

Dr. Nuccio is the author of What's Wrong, Who's Right in Central America, A Citizen’s Guide (Holmes & Meier, 1989), and of numerous articles on Central America, Mexico, and U.S.–Latin American relations. He is the author of "Cuba: A U.S. Perspective," in Richard Haass, ed., Transatlantic Tensions: The United States, Europe, and Problem Countries (Brookings Institution, 1999) and "The CIA and the Guatemalan Peace Process," Foreword, in Stephen Schlesinger and Stephen Kinzer, Bitter Fruit, The Story of the American Coup in Guatemala (Harvard University Press: David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies, 2005). In 1997 Dr. Nuccio received the Cavallo Foundation Prize for Moral Courage in Business and Government.