Joan Edelman Spero (born October 2, 1944 in Davenport, Iowa) is a Senior Research Scholar at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, where she researches and writes about international philanthropy and its role in the global system.

From 1993 to 1997, Ms. Spero served in the U.S. Department of State as Undersecretary for Economic, Business, and Agricultural Affairs.

From 1981 to 1993, she held several positions at American Express Company, the last being Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Communications.

Spero serves as a member of the Advisory Board of the Genesis Prize Foundation.

[1] She serves as a Trustee of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation and the International Center for Transitional Justice and is a Trustee Emeritus of Columbia University, Amherst College, the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Brookings Institution.