Mayor Andre Dickens has appointed Paulina Guzman as the Director of the Mayor’s Office of International & Immigrant Affairs (MOIIA). Guzman most recently served as the office’s interim.
“Atlanta is an international city, and the Office of International & Immigrant Affairs is one of the most essential elements in maintaining our cultural and economic strength in the global community,” Dickens said in a media statement. “This team needs strong leadership, which is what Paulina Guzman brings to this role. Her background in international affairs, knowledge and love for Atlanta makes her the ideal leader to help us continue to make this a city of opportunity for all.”
In this role, Guzman will empower the city’s international and immigrant community and advise senior leadership on diplomatic protocol, according to a press release. Additionally, she will lead strategic partnership opportunities with local, national, and international organizations.
While serving as interim director, Guzman has hosted 122 delegations from over 55 countries, including Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. Additionally, her team was awarded more than $6.8 million from the Emergency Food and Shelter Program – Humanitarian (EFSP-H) Grant administered by the United Way National Board to support newly arriving migrants.
Guzman joined the City of Atlanta in 2017 as International Affairs Coordinator and served as Global Engagement Officer and Deputy Director from 2018 to 2023. Before joining the City of Atlanta, she served as the Membership Relations Manager for the World Affairs Council of Atlanta where she led membership and development strategy and implementation. She currently serves as a board member of the Atlanta Global Studies Center External Advisory Board and Robinson College International Advisory Board.