The International Leadership Center at Yale’s Jackson School of Global Affairs has named Laurent Saint-Cyr as its inaugural Yale Peace Fellow.

Saint-Cyr is a member of Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council, where he is a representative of the country’s formal private sector. Inaugurated in April 2024 with a mandate to bring political stability and set a roadmap to general elections, the Transitional Presidential Council consists of seven voting and two non-voting members. Before joining the council, Saint-Cyr served as a member of the country’s High Council of Transition, charged with promoting a national dialogue. He has served as president of multiple business groups, including the American Chamber of Commerce in Haiti and the country’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and as executive director and a member of the board at Alternative Insurance Company.

“Laurent is the first of our Peace Fellows, and we could not have hoped for a better person with whom to launch this program,” said Rob Malley, founding director of the ILC’s Peace Hub and a Jackson School Senior Fellow.

“Like Laurent, the fellows from around the world who will be joining us in the spring semester and in years to come will form part of a global network of committed mediators, negotiators, and peace activists. The fellows, each with deep experience in particular conflicts, will enjoy access to seasoned practitioners and to Yale’s unique resources. Through their time at Yale, they will learn from others, share their knowledge, and help develop innovative approaches to conflict-resolution. We are extremely excited to inaugurate this program and look forward to the important contributions our fellows will make to the field,” he added.

The fellowship brings emerging leaders on issues of peace and conflict to Yale for an intensive period of research, mentoring, and training. The fellowship is managed in collaboration with Inter Mediate, a leading peacemaking organization that provides mediation advisory and support to peace processes across the globe.

“Laurent Saint-Cyr is a man of integrity who cares deeply about the future of Haiti. A leader of the business community, he is widely respected by the domestic and international players. We are delighted to welcome him to Yale,” said Emma Sky, director of the International Leadership Center.