Profile

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Joseph Eldridge

University Chaplain and Senior Adjunct Professorial Lecturer
School of International Service

  • Additional Positions at AU

    Adjunct Faculty in SIS and SOC
  • Joe Eldridge has spent more than twenty-five years working in the public policy arena as an advocate and analyst on international human rights and humanitarian issues. In 1991 he established the Washington Office of the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights; during the mid-1980s he worked in Honduras consulting on human rights and development issues; and after a three-year sojourn in Chile in the early 1970s he co-founded the Washington Office on Latin America and served as its first director. He has an MA in International Relations from American University, a MDiv from Perkins School of Theology at SMU, and a DMin from Wesley Theological Seminary. He is married to Maria Otero and they have three children.

  • Degrees

    BA – Tennessee Wesleyan College MTh – Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University MA – International Relations – SIS Wesley Theological Seminary – Doctorate of Ministry

  • Favorite Spot on Campus:

    View of Quad from third floor in library

    Book Currently Reading:

    "The Eloquent President: A Portrait of Lincoln Through His Words" by Ronald White

    Languages Spoken:

    Spanish

  • OFFICE

  • Kay Spiritual Life Center
  • Kay - Lower Level

  • CONTACT INFO

  • (202) 885-3336
  • Send email Profile UserID

  • FOR THE MEDIA

  • To request an interview for a
    news story, call AU Communications
    at 202-885-5950 or submit a request.

Partnerships & Affiliations

  • Arca Foundation

    Board Member

  • Washington Office on Latin American America

    Board Member

  • Rothko Chapel –Houston, TX

    Board Member (Ex Comm)

  • Center of International Policy

    Board Member (Ex Comm)

  • Santiago College - Chile

    Board of Trustees

Scholarly, Creative & Professional Activities

Research Interests

Best Practices in NGO Management; Effective Activism; US Policy Toward Latin America; US Human Rights Policy; Role of Religion in International Relations; Interfaith Life and Practice. 

Honors, Awards, and Fellowships

  • Louis Sohn Human Rights Award, United Nations Association, National Capital Area, 2007
  • Orden de Bernardo O’Higgins, Chilean Government, 2009   
  • Alumni of the Year, TWC, 2002   
  • Rockefeller Fellow, 1967

 

Congressional Testimony

  • Testified before House Foreign Affairs Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee (1970-2000)                

 

 

 

 

Selected Publications

  • The Churches’ Witness in Latin America, Shalom Papers, Spring 2000, Vol.II, No. 2   
  • Eldridge, J. and Saunders, W.  “Human Rights: A Look Homeward.”  Legal Times, May 15, 1995.   
  • Eldridge, J.  “Through a Glass, Darkly: Facing Up to Our Human Rights Record.”  Legal Times, September 26, 1994.   
  • Eldridge, J. And Pruckmayr, B.  “Implications of International Human Rights for Human Rights Work in the United States,” The Journal of Intergroup Relations, Spring 1993.   
  • “World Bank Catching On To Democracy, Human Rights,” Los Angeles Times, September 1993.   
  • Fagen, P. and Eldridge, J.  “El Salvador: Repatriation of Refugees,” in Repatriation Under Conflict in Central America, edited by Mary Ann Larkin, Frederick Cuny, Barry Stein.  CIPRA and Intertect, Georgetown University.  1991.          

Media Appearances

  • Interviewed by Ted Clark on National Public Radio on several occasions in 1994 and 1995 on topical human rights issues.
  • Interviewed by Mike Wallace for “60 Minutes” piece on U.S. assistance to Honduras, January 1989.
  • Interviewed by Bill Moyers for 90-minute PBS documentary “God and Politics in Central America,” September 1988.                     

Executive Experience

  • Founding Director, Washington Office on Latin America
  • Founding Director, Washington Office, Lawyers Committee for Human Rights              

AU Expert

Area of Expertise: Faith and spirituality, church and politics, liberation theology, faith and politics, international human rights, Latin America, U.S. foreign policy toward Latin America, Honduras, Bolivia

Additional Information: Joseph Eldridge has spent more than 25 years working in the public policy arena as an advocate and analyst on international human rights and humanitarian issues. In 1991 he established the Washington Office of the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights. During the mid-1980s, he worked in Honduras, consulting on human rights and development issues. After three years in Chile in the early 1970s, he cofounded the Washington Office on Latin America and served as its first director.
 

Media Relations
To request an interview please call AU Media Relations at 202-885-5950 or submit an interview request form.

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