Charlotte Ashamu

Charlotte Ashamu is the Director of International Programs at Yale Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (IPCH).  She leads IPCH’s international strategy through public outreach and partnerships with museums, cultural institutions, and heritage bodies worldwide.

Prior to joining Yale, Ashamu served as the Associate Director of Advancement and External Affairs at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. Previously she was Senior Advisor and Mo Ibrahim Leadership Fellow at the African Development Bank in the Office of the President and the Resource Mobilization and Partnerships Department. In addition, she served as Program Officer in the Advisory Services Department at the International Finance Corporation, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group. Ashamu began her career as an international trade specialist at global consulting firms Whitaker Group and Abt Associates in Washington, DC. 

Ashamu holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Africana Studies from Wellesley College. A graduate of the Paris Fashion Institute, Ashamu has produced cultural programs and exhibitions featuring contemporary artists and designers from across Africa and has served as a guest lecturer at the University of Johannesburg’s Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture. She currently serves on the advisory council of the Madeleine Korbel Albright Institute for Global Affairs and on the boards of several non-profit organizations.