DALLAS, TEXAS —The George W. Bush Institute announced today that Jonathan Tepperman has joined the organization as a Senior Fellow and Editor-in-Chief of its award-winning quarterly publication The Catalyst: A Journal of Ideas From the Bush Institute.
“Jonathan Tepperman is a world-class thought leader and writer. He has the experience needed to guide The Catalyst and further establish it as a publication providing insightful and informative analyses on pressing national and global issues,” said David J. Kramer, Executive Director of the Bush Institute. “I am most grateful to William McKenzie for developing and building a publication that can stand the test of time. We are thankful William will continue to be an important resource for the Bush Institute in his role of senior advisor.”
The principle underlying The Catalyst is that ideas matter and shape public policies, spur action, and lead to results. Each issue presents compelling essays and interviews that address a central question or theme. Along with Bush Institute directors and fellows, The Catalyst convenes leading experts and writers, as well as new and rising voices, to address each topic.
Tepperman is an author, journalist, and former Editor-in-Chief of Foreign Policy magazine. He previously served as Managing Editor of Foreign Affairs and authored the 2016 book The Fix: How Countries Use Crises to Solve the World’s Worst Problems. The book was called “an indispensable handbook” by The New York Times and was longlisted for the 2016 Financial Times’ Business Book of the Year.
“I’m honored to be joining the George W. Bush Institute,” Tepperman said. “The Catalyst is an important publication that examines critical challenges facing our Nation and the world. The need for rational, high-minded, and nonpartisan debate over public policy has never been greater, and I look forward to welcoming new and old authors into the conversation.”
In 2016, Tepperman presented a TED Talk exploring how global leaders are tackling hard problems and found three common tools for problem-solving. The speech, titled “The Risky Politics of Progress,” has been viewed more than a million times.
Tepperman has written regularly for publications such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. He has interviewed more than a dozen world leaders, including Syrian President Bashar Assad, former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and Brazilian President Lula da Silva.
“We are thrilled that Jonathan Tepperman will use his expertise to help the Bush Institute become a leading voice on advancing free societies, strengthening our democracy, and ensuring opportunity for everyone,” said Kenneth A. Hersh, President and CEO of the George W. Bush Presidential Center. “Under Tepperman’s leadership, The Catalyst will be a forum to create long-term impact to drive purposeful change in our Nation.”
In 2022, The Catalyst won first prize in the Editor and Publisher’s annual EPPY Awards for Best Magazine Website under 1 million unique views. The publication also won the award in 2019. The Catalyst features people of different political persuasions to present ways for America to become a stronger, more prosperous, and caring country.
Recent journal topics have explored restoring trust in institutions, Ukraine, and creating a more perfect union. Guest authors have included former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, former Senator Joseph Lieberman, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Senior Fellow Rachel Kleinfeld, German Marshall Fund Senior Fellow Laura Thornton, and former Representative Will Hurd.
Tepperman is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a Fellow of the New York Institute for the Humanities. He has a bachelor’s in English from Yale University, a master’s in jurisprudence from Oxford, and a master’s of international law from New York University. Tepperman will continue to live in Brooklyn, New York.
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About the George W. Bush Institute
The George W. Bush Institute is a solution-oriented nonpartisan policy organization focused on ensuring opportunity for all, strengthening democracy, and advancing free societies. Housed within the George W. Bush Presidential Center, the Bush Institute is rooted in compassionate conservative values and committed to creating positive, meaningful, and lasting change at home and abroad. We utilize our unique platform and convening power to advance solutions to national and global issues of the day. Learn more at bushcenter.org.
