Five U.S. Ambassadors-At-Large to Combat Trafficking in Human Persons — from the Bush, Obama, Trump I, and Biden administrations — will address urgent concerns regarding the future of global efforts against modern slavery during a summit on Jan. 22, 2026. The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law and other University departments are sponsoring the program.
This event commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act and is being held during Human Trafficking Awareness Month:
Global Anti-Human Trafficking Movement at a Crossroads
- Jan. 22, 2026, 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. (in-person only)
- Columbus School of Law, Walter A. Slowinski Courtroom
- 3600 John McCormack Rd. NE, Washington, D.C. 20064
For over 25 years, the United States has served as the preeminent global leader in anti-trafficking efforts through the State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. Established by Congress in 2000, this prominent office traditionally has been led by an ambassador-at-large reporting directly to the Secretary of State.
The office has been responsible for the annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report and the administration of over $300 million to support nearly 1,000 international projects focused on prevention, protection, and prosecution.
Administrative shifts since January 2025 have placed these longstanding efforts at a crossroads.
The current administration has reduced the office staff by more than 50 percent, merged the office into a larger bureau, and terminated approximately 69 international programs aimed at combating child labor and forced labor.
The panelists will discuss these structural changes and their potential implications for decades of progress in protecting vulnerable workers and sex trafficking victims worldwide.
Participants include the former ambassadors-at-large Mark Lagon (2007-2009), Luis C.deBaca (2009-2014), Susan Coppedge (2015-2017), John Cotton Richmond (2018-2020), and Cindy Dyer (2023-2025). Together, they bring decades of high-level diplomatic, nonprofit, and legal experience to analyzing the trajectory of American leadership in human rights.
The event is sponsored by the Columbus School of Law’s Bakhita Initiative for the Study and Disruption of Modern Slavery and the Immigration Law and Policy Initiative, with Catholic University's Departments of Global Studies and Politics.
About the Ambassadors
Mark Lagon (Bush Administration, 2007–2009)
Currently chief policy officer at the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, Ambassador Lagon strengthened multilateral collaborations and shaped groundbreaking strategies to combat modern slavery as ambassador.
Luis C.deBaca (Obama Administration, 2009–2014)
Ambassador C.deBaca is a professor of practice at the University of Michigan Law School. He played a pivotal role in shaping U.S. trafficking policy and advancing global standards for combating human trafficking.
Susan Coppedge (Obama and Trump Administrations, 2015-2017)
Now executive director of Georgia Legal Services, Ambassador Coppedge’s tenure was marked by a focus on survivor services, incorporation of survivor voices through the U.S. Advisory Council, and interagency cooperation to strengthen prevention and protection efforts.
John Cotton Richmond (Trump Administration, 2018–2021)
Serving as Chief Impact Officer of Atlas Free and President of the Libertas Council, Ambassador Richmond is a noted legal expert and strategist in combating human trafficking. He has received national recognition for his innovative approaches to victim-centered prosecutions and foreign policy engagement.
Cindy Dyer (Biden Administration, 2023–2025)
Currently Chief Program Officer for the McCain Institute, Ambassador Dyer’s career has been defined by her commitment to human rights and the eradication of human trafficking, domestic violence, and sexual assault. She has championed policy development, international collaboration, and survivor empowerment throughout her distinguished public service.