Carolyn Woo

Carolyn Yauyan Woo became a Distinguished President’s Fellow for Global Development at Purdue University in February 2017. In this role, she is assisting Purdue in various international collaborative efforts. During 2012-2016, Woo served as president and CEO of Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Woo served on the Board of Directors of CRS from 2004-2010. As president of CRS, Carolyn was featured in the May/June 2013 issue of Foreign Policy as one of the 500 Most Powerful people on the planet and one of only 33 in the category of “a force for good.” During her time leading CRS, Purdue and CRS established a strategic partnership.
Woo is a distinguished alumna and honorary alumna of Purdue University and the University of Notre Dame. She has received honorary doctorates from Providence College, Loyola University of Maryland, Manhattan College, Wake Forest University, the University of Notre Dame and others.