Andrés Martinez to Direct New America Foundation’s Bernard L. Schwartz Fellows Program

Washington, D.C. – The New America Foundation today announced that Andrés Martinez, former editorial page editor of the Los Angeles Times, will become director of the Bernard L. Schwartz Fellows Program, which seeks to identify and support the next generation of American public policy scholars and writers.

New America provides financial, professional and institutional support for up to 35 fellows each year. Its fellows program seeks out individuals whose research and ideas promise to bring forward exceptionally promising new thinking about the most pressing issues facing the United States.

Mr. Martinez was the editorial page editor of the Los Angeles Times from 2004-2007, and also presided over the newspaper’s op-ed page and Sunday opinion section. He previously served as assistant editorial page editor at The New York Times and was a member of that newspaper’s editorial board from 2000 to 2004.

A native of Mexico, Mr. Martinez earned a B.A. in history at Yale, an M.A. in Russian history at Stanford University, and a J.D. at Columbia University Law School, where he was a member of the Columbia Law Review.

“Andrés is a gifted editor and writer with expertise that stretches across an astonishing range of subject matter,” said Steve Coll, New America’s president. “He has an exceptional sense of how technology and global economic integration are changing America’s place in the world and the issues we must address. He is also an outstanding leader, mentor and colleague who can help our fellows across the full range of their work.”

Mr. Martinez will succeed Sherle R. Schwenninger, one of New America’s founders, who helped build the fellows program and led it for many years. Mr. Schwenninger also directs the foundation’s work on the global economy, which he will continue to lead while also concentrating on his own writing about economic and foreign policy.

“I look forward to working with our outstanding fellows—and partnering with Steve, Sherle and others to identify and recruit new ones—to ensure that New America continues to be an incubator of original and provocative thinking,” Mr. Martinez said.

Mr. Martinez is also a contributing editor at Portfolio magazine and writes the "Stumped" political column for the WashingtonPost.com.  In his new position at New America, he will continue both endeavors.

New America’s fellows program is generously supported by Bernard L. Schwartz, former chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Loral Space & Communications, Ltd.

Additional Resources:
Martinez Bio: http://www.newamerica.net/people/andres_martinez
Martinez Photo: http://www.newamerica.net/files/andres_martinezHIRES.jpg
Program Overview: http://www.newamerica.net/programs/bernard_l_schwartz_fellows_program
Current Fellows: http://www.newamerica.net/about/current_fellows

About the New America Foundation:
The New America Foundation is an independent, nonprofit public policy institute whose purpose is to bring exceptionally promising new voices and new ideas to the fore of our nation's public discourse. Relying on a venture capital approach, the Foundation invests in outstanding individuals and policy solutions that transcend the conventional political spectrum. New America is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and also has offices in California.

Learn More About: Andrés Martinez, Bernard L. Schwartz, Sherle R. Schwenninger, Steve Coll
Related Programs: The Bernard L. Schwartz Fellows Program