Sondra Govatski
Grants Administrator

Sondra Govatski joined the International Republican Institute (IRI) as grants administrator in April 2005. In that position she is the central coordinator for all grant activities of IRI.

Prior to joining IRI, Govatski served as program coordinator for the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) from March 2002 to April 2005. In that position she oversaw the administrative and fiscal management of economic support funds for worldwide programs. She was instrumental in improving the bureau's grant-making operation by introducing internal management controls and developing a system for efficient management of projects. During her time DRL assistance increased from $12 million to more than $100 million annually.

Govatski also served as the program manager for the State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. While there she managed more than $10 million of academic exchange grant programs specific to Eurasia. In addition to her work overseeing grant and budget proposals, she also planned and implemented exchange programs.

As a training specialist with the Academy for Educational Development from May 1996 to June 1998, Govatski managed Eurasia programs funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development. She was responsible developing training programs for groups of Eurasian professionals.

Govatski earned her bachelor's degree in Russian Area Studies from Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts. She has studied Russian language at the Institute of Steel and Alloys in Moscow and the Herzen Institute in St. Petersburg, Russia.