Karen Donfried

Karen Erika Donfried[1] is an American foreign policy expert who previously served as the assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs.[2] The State Department announced in March 2023 that Donfried will be stepping down from her post at the end of the month.[3] She also served as president of the German Marshall Fund from April 2014 to September 2021.[4]

Karen Donfried
Official portrait, 2021
Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs
In office
September 30, 2021 – March 31, 2023
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byA. Wess Mitchell
Succeeded byJames C. O'Brien
President of the German Marshall Fund
In office
April 2014 – September 2021
Preceded byCraig Kennedy
Succeeded byHeather Conley
Personal details
Spouse
Alan Untereiner
​
(m. 1988)​
RelationsKarl Paul Donfried (father)
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

Early life and education

Donfried was born as daughter to Karl P. Donfried and Katherine E. Donfried[1] at Amherst, Massachusetts and spent her early childhood in Heidelberg, Germany.[5] 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.[6] 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.[6] Donfried is fluent in German.[6]

Career

Donfried served for ten years as a European specialist at the Congressional Research Service.[6] 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.[6] 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.[6]

After NIO, Donfried worked at the National Security Council as a special assistant to the president and senior director for European affairs.[7][6][8] In April 2014, Donfried became the first female president of the German Marshall Fund.[9][10] 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.[11]

Biden administration

On March 26, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Donfried as assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs.[12] The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held hearings on her nomination on July 20, 2021. The committee favorably reported her nomination on August 4, 2021. Donfried was confirmed by the entire Senate on September 28, 2021, by a vote of 73-26.[13][14]

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.[20][1] Donfried speaks German.[6]

References
  1. "Karen Donfried Weds Alan Untereiner". New York Times. June 5, 1988. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  2. "Karen Donfried". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  3. Pamuk, Humeyra (2023-03-20). "Top U.S. State Dept diplomat for Europe to step down to focus on family". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  4. "Karen Donfried". GMFUS. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  5. Berglof, Annie Maccoby (2015-02-27). "Former White House adviser Karen Donfried on US ties with Europe". Financial Times. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
  6. "Dr. Karen Donfried". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  7. "Expected Attendees at Tonight's State Dinner". whitehouse.gov. February 11, 2014. Retrieved April 1, 2016 – via National Archives.
  8. "Former GMF Executive Vice President Appointed to Key Roles in White House and NSC". German Marshall Fund. May 22, 2013. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  9. "Former White House adviser Karen Donfried on US ties with Europe". Financial Times. February 27, 2015. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  10. "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.
  11. The German Marshall Fund and Bundeskanzler-Helmut-Schmidt-Stiftung Launch “Transatlantic Task Force” Setting Path Forward for U.S.-Europe Relations Archived 2019-12-14 at the Wayback Machine German Marshall Fund, press release of December 12, 2019.
  12. "President Biden Announces His Intent to Nominate Key Administration Leaders in the State Department". The White House. 2021-04-15. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  13. "PN548 — Karen Erika Donfried — Department of State 117th Congress (2021-2022)". US Congress. 28 September 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  14. "On the Nomination (Confirmation: Karen Erika Donfried, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (European Affairs and Eurasian Affairs))". US Senate. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  15. "Current Board Members". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  16. "Donfried Participates in Secretary Kerry's Foreign Affairs Policy Board". German Marshall Fund. April 30, 2015. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  17. Strategic Committee Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA).
  18. Europe Policy Group World Economic Forum.
  19. Global Future Council: The Future of Regional Governance World Economic Forum.
  20. "Karen Donfried to Wed Alan Untereiner". New York Times. November 8, 1987. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
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