The Eisenhower Institute at Gettysburg College, also referred to as the Eisenhower Institute, is an academic center and leadership development program housed within Gettysburg College with locations in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. The institute was originally founded in 1983 as the Eisenhower World Affairs Institute, a think tank focusing on international affairs and directed by Susan Eisenhower, the granddaughter of President Dwight Eisenhower. The institute merged with Gettysburg College in 2009 while focusing on providing programs for students and training and research on public policy and leadership. ^{1 2 3 4}

Background

The Eisenhower Institute was formed in 1983 as The Eisenhower World Affairs Institute by former colleagues, family members, and supporters of the late President Dwight Eisenhower. Dwight Eisenhower’s granddaughter, Susan Eisenhower, was a founding director of the institute and became the organization’s first president. ¹

Susan Eisenhower left the institute in 1989 and founded the Center for Political and Strategic Studies (CPSS) in 1991. CPSS would focus on research topics including post-cold war relations between the United State and former Soviet Union, nuclear non-proliferation, NATO expansion, and other activities including “regional studies on subjects including health and environmental degradation in Russia and the impact of emerging Islam in Central Asia.” ¹ In 2000 the CPSS merged with the Eisenhower World Affairs Institute with Susan Eisenhower acting as the president and CEO. ¹

Merger with Gettysburg College

During the 1990’s, the Eisenhower World Affairs Institute worked with Gettysburg College to manage several undergraduate educational programs focused on public affairs within the university. By 2009, the Institute merged with and became housed within the College. ¹

Since the merger, the Eisenhower Institute has operated out of an office in Washington, D.C. as well as in the Gettysburg home where Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower lived in 1918. ¹

Leadership

As of 2024, Tracie Potts serves as executive director of the Eisenhower World Affairs Institute. Prior to working at the institute, Potts was a broadcast journalist and senior Washington correspondent for NBC News. ⁵

1. “History of the Institute.” Eisenhower Institute at Gettysburg College. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://www.gettysburg.edu/eisenhower-institute/about/history-institute
2. diFonzo, Vincent. “Gettysburg College’s Eisenhower Institute Celebrates Democracy Week.” Gettysburg Connection. October 2, 2023. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://gettysburgconnection.org/gettysburg-colleges-eisenhower-institute-celebrates-democracy-week/
3. “Why is U.S. Democracy in Crisis?” Eisenhower Institute at Gettysburg College. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://engage.gettysburg.edu/eisenhower/rsvp_boot?id=2262613
4. “Home.” Eisenhower Institute at Gettysburg College. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://www.gettysburg.edu/eisenhower-institute/
5. “Tracie Potts.” Eisenhower Institute at Gettysburg College. Accessed September 29, 2024.  https://www.gettysburg.edu/eisenhower-institute/about/staff-experts/employee_detail.dot?empId=013717096120013320&pageTitle=Tracie+Potts