Joel McCleary received a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University in 1971. He was treasurer of the Democratic National Committee from 1977 to 1978, and White House assistant to the President from 1978 to 1980. From 1981 to 1989, he ran overseas presidential campaigns as president of Sawyer Miller International. Founder of the Institute of Asian Democracy, he has advised His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and currently serves on the board of the International Campaign for Tibet.