Rachel Bronson Joins the Chicago Council on Global Affairs

The Chicago Council on Global Affairs is excited to announce the appointment of Dr. Rachel Bronson as Lester Crown Nonresident Senior Fellow on Energy and Geopolitics. Bronson, a respected voice on the geopolitics of energy and the Middle East, will join the Council’s roster of esteemed experts and focus on the intersection of energy, geopolitics, and international security.   

“A rigorous and innovative thinker, Bronson brings deep experience and expertise to a critical and dynamic area of global affairs,” said Council President and CEO Leslie Vinjamuri. “We are thrilled to have her with us for our next chapter.” 

Bronson is currently a senior advisor at the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, where she served as president and CEO from 2015 to 2025. Under her leadership, the organization expanded its work on critical issues including nuclear risk, climate change, and disruptive technologies such as AI and biosecurity, dramatically increasing its reach and impact.  

The appointment as senior fellow marks Bronson’s return to the Council: before joining the Bulletin, she spent eight years directing Council research as vice president of studies. Bronson was also previously senior fellow and director of Middle East studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, senior fellow for international security affairs at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and fellow at Harvard University’s Belfer Center. She is the author of Thicker than Oil: America's Uneasy Partnership with Saudi Arabia. 

“I am thrilled to return to the Chicago Council in this new capacity and contribute to fast-changing conversations around energy and geopolitics,” Bronson said. “I look forward to working with the organization's vibrant community of experts and its visionary new president to elevate thinking around these important issues on the national and international stage.” 

About the Council

A nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, the Council was founded in 1922 and is dedicated to increasing knowledge and engagement in global affairs. Our in-depth analysis and expert-led research influence policy conversations and inform the insights we share with our growing community. Through accessible content and open dialogue of diverse, fact-based perspectives, we empower more people to help shape our global future. Learn more at globalaffairs.org.