Karen Donfried

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Karen Donfried
Karen Donfried, Assistant Secretary of State.jpg
Official portrait, 2021
Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs
Assumed office
October 1, 2021
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byA. Wess Mitchell
President of the German Marshall Fund
In office
April 2014 – September 2021
Preceded byCraig Kennedy
Succeeded byHeather Conley
Personal details
Spouse(s)
Alan Untereiner
​
(m. 1988)​
EducationWesleyan University (BA)
Tufts University (MA, PhD)
University of Munich (Mgr)
AwardsItalian Order of Merit
German Order of Merit
Belgian Order of the Crown
Superior Honor Award

Karen Erika Donfried[1] is an American foreign policy expert who is currently serving as the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs.[2] She previously served as president of the German Marshall Fund from April 2014 to September 2021.[3]

Early life and education[]

Donfried was born to Karl P. Donfried and Katherine E. Donfried[1] at Amherst, Massachusetts and spent her early childhood in Heidelberg, Germany.[4] Her father was a professor of religion at Smith College, and her mother was the owner of an automobile parts company.[1]

Donfried obtained her bachelor's degree in government from Wesleyan University.[5] At Wesleyan, she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.[1] She later obtained her master's degree and PhD from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, and as well as a magister from the University of Munich.[5] Donfried is fluent in German.[5]

Career[]

Donfried served for ten years as a European specialist at the Congressional Research Service.[5] She joined the German Marshall Fund in 2001.

From 2003 to 2005, Donfried worked for the U.S. State Department's Policy Planning Staff. In 2005, she returned to the German Marshall Fund to serve as senior director of policy programs and later as executive vice president until 2010.[5]

Afterwards, Donfried worked as the national intelligence officer for Europe on the National Intelligence Council. At NIO, she directed and drafted strategic analysis for senior policymakers.[5]

After NIO, Donfried worked at the National Security Council as a Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for European Affairs.[6][5][7]

In April 2014, Donfried became the first female president of the German Marshall Fund.[8][9]

Since 2019, Donfried has been co-chairing on the Transatlantic Task Force of the German Marshall Fund and the Bundeskanzler-Helmut-Schmidt-Stiftung (BKHS), alongside Wolfgang Ischinger.[10]

On March 26, 2021, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Donfried as Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs.[11] On April 29, 2021, her nomination was sent to the U.S. Senate. On September 28, 2021, she was confirmed by the Senate by a vote of 73-26.[12]

Other activities[]

Awards[]

Donfried became an officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 2018, received the Cross of the Order of Merit from the German government in 2011, became an officer of the Order of the Crown of Belgium in 2010, and received a Superior Honor Award from the U.S. Department of State in 2005 for her contribution to revitalizing the transatlantic partnership.[2]

Personal life[]

Donfried married in June 1988 to Alan Untereiner, a graduate of Harvard College and Yale Law School.[18][1]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e "Karen Donfried Weds Alan Untereiner". New York Times. June 5, 1988. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Karen Donfried". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  3. ^ "Karen Donfried". GMFUS. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  4. ^ Berglof, Annie Maccoby (2015-02-27). "Former White House adviser Karen Donfried on US ties with Europe". Financial Times. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "Dr. Karen Donfried". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  6. ^ "Expected Attendees at Tonight's State Dinner". whitehouse.gov. February 11, 2014. Retrieved April 1, 2016 – via National Archives.
  7. ^ "Former GMF Executive Vice President Appointed to Key Roles in White House and NSC". German Marshall Fund. May 22, 2013. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  8. ^ "Former White House adviser Karen Donfried on US ties with Europe". Financial Times. February 27, 2015. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  9. ^ "Dr. Karen Donfried (F88, F91) Appointed President of the German Marshall Fund". Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. February 14, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  10. ^ The German Marshall Fund and Bundeskanzler-Helmut-Schmidt-Stiftung Launch “Transatlantic Task Force” Setting Path Forward for U.S.-Europe Relations German Marshall Fund, press release of December 12, 2019.
  11. ^ "President Biden Announces His Intent to Nominate Key Administration Leaders in the State Department". The White House. 2021-04-15. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  12. ^ "PN548 - Nomination of Karen Erika Donfried for Department of State, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". www.congress.gov. 2021-09-28. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  13. ^ "Current Board Members". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  14. ^ "Donfried Participates in Secretary Kerry's Foreign Affairs Policy Board". German Marshall Fund. April 30, 2015. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  15. ^ Strategic Committee Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA).
  16. ^ Europe Policy Group World Economic Forum.
  17. ^ Global Future Council: The Future of Regional Governance World Economic Forum.
  18. ^ "Karen Donfried to Wed Alan Untereiner". New York Times. November 8, 1987. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
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