NCNK

Matt Abbott is the Director of Government and Diplomatic Programs at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Prior to joining the Council, he served as Director of Global and Economic Affairs for U.S. Senator Mark Kirk. He also served on the staff of Mr. Kirk in the U.S. House of Representatives as well as the staff of Representative Philip Crane.

Abbott has participated in numerous conferences, Track 1.5, and Track 2 sessions on East Asian security issues. He has traveled extensively to over 95 countries including North Korea. 

He was a participant in the National Committee on American Foreign Policy's Emerging Leaders Program for Next Generation Korea Peninsula Specialists and completed a research project on U.S. legislative branch engagement with North Korea. Abbott is also the recipient of multiple other awards and fellowships including a Foreign Policy Fellowship with the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and a Kim Koo Fellowship with the Korea Society. In addition, he is an instructor at the University of Chicago where he teaches a course on the history of diplomacy in Chicago.

Abbott received his undergraduate education at Dartmouth College and completed his graduate education at the University of Chicago. He also received a diploma from the United States Naval War College.