New York, NY—Today, Columbia World Projects (CWP) announced that Avril Haines, who is due to become the Director of CWP on July 1, will take a leave of absence beginning in August to join Former Vice President and Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden’s transition team, leading the foreign affairs and national security portfolios. 
 
In addition to working at CWP, Haines is a Senior Research Scholar and Lecturer in Law at Columbia Law School. In late May, Columbia University President Lee C. Bollinger announced that Haines would assume the role of Director of CWP. In the wake of her leave of absence, CWP Director Nicholas Lemann will continue to serve in his position through the end of 2020.
 
“It comes as little surprise that Avril was asked to fill this critical role on Vice President Biden’s transition team,” said Lemann. “Columbia World Projects has been shaped by her talent, passion and experience. And while we’ll feel the hole from her absence, we applaud her as she takes on this historic opportunity.”