Contributors

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Thomas J. Vilsack

Thomas J. Vilsack, former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and Governor of Iowa, is Chief Executive Officer of the World Food Prize Foundation. In this role, Governor Vilsack expands the Foundation’s global network and advances its leadership in addressing food and nutrition insecurity, continuing a lifetime of public service. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Hamilton College and a law degree from Albany Law School. After settling in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, he served as mayor, Iowa state senator, and was elected governor in 1998, serving two terms focused on sustainable energy and agriculture. Governor Vilsack served as the 30th and 32nd U.S. Secretary of Agriculture (2008–2017; 2021–2025), during which USDA set export records and strengthened the nation’s food system. Long connected to the Foundation through its Council of Advisors and Board of Directors, his leadership is central to expanding its international impact.