Melanne Verveer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Melanne Verveer
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Verveer in 2009
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| 1st United States Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues | |
| In office April 6, 2009 – May 8, 2013 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Catherine Russell |
| Chief of Staff to the First Lady of the United States | |
| In office 1997–2000 |
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| President | Bill Clinton |
| First Lady | Hillary Clinton |
| Preceded by | Maggie Williams |
| Succeeded by | Andrea Ball |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 24, 1944 Pottsville, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Georgetown University (BS, MS) |
Melanne Verveer (born June 24, 1944) is an American diplomat and advocate who has spent her career working to protect people's rights and empower women around the world. She is the executive director of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace, and Security at Georgetown University.
In 2009, President Barack Obama chose Verveer to be the first-ever United States Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues. In this role, she traveled the globe to promote the rights and well-being of women and girls.
Before her work as an ambassador, she worked closely with President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton in the White House. She also co-founded Vital Voices Global Partnership, an organization that helps train and support women leaders worldwide.
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Early Life and Career
Melanne Verveer was born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. She attended Georgetown University, where she earned both a bachelor's and a master's degree.
Before working in the White House, Verveer was the executive director of People for the American Way, a group that works to protect the rights of all Americans. She helped pass important civil rights laws. She also worked for U.S. Senator George McGovern and Representative Marcy Kaptur.
Verveer is married to Philip Verveer, a lawyer and former ambassador. They have three children and two granddaughters.
Working in the White House
From 1993 to 2000, Melanne Verveer held important roles in the administration of President Bill Clinton. She advised the president on many topics, including healthcare and women's issues.
Chief of Staff to the First Lady
Verveer served as the Chief of Staff for First Lady Hillary Clinton from 1997 to 2000. She helped manage Mrs. Clinton's international work, which focused on women's rights, education for girls, and helping women start small businesses. She organized the First Lady's trips to more than 70 countries.
One of her major projects was helping to plan the U.S. part in the United Nations' Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China, in 1995. At this conference, Hillary Clinton gave a famous speech where she declared that "Women's Rights Are Human Rights".
In her book, Hillary Clinton wrote that Verveer was a "true policy wonk" who knew everyone in Washington, D.C. She said Verveer was a key player on the president's team and was essential to many projects that helped women and protected human rights.
A Champion for Women Worldwide
First Ambassador for Global Women's Issues
In 2009, President Barack Obama created a new position: Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues. He nominated Verveer to be the first person to hold this job. As ambassador, her mission was to make sure that supporting women and girls was a central part of American foreign policy.
From 2009 to 2013, she worked with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to advance women's rights. She traveled to nearly 60 countries, including Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, to meet with women and support their efforts to gain political and economic power.
In 2013, President Obama praised Verveer's work and made the Ambassador for Global Women's Issues a permanent position. He said that Verveer's work helped give women around the world more opportunities to reach their full potential.
Vital Voices
In 2001, Verveer co-founded an international non-governmental organization (or NGO) called Vital Voices Global Partnership. The organization grew out of an initiative started by Hillary Clinton.
Vital Voices finds and trains women leaders who are working to improve their communities. It helps women get involved in politics, start businesses, and fight human rights abuses, like the trafficking of women and children. Verveer was the chair and co-CEO of Vital Voices until she became an ambassador in 2009.
Awards and Recognition
Melanne Verveer has received many awards for her work. In 2008, the President of Ukraine awarded her the Order of Princess Olga. In 2013, she received the U.S. Secretary's Distinguished Service Award, one of the highest honors in the U.S. Department of State.
She has also been given honorary degrees from several colleges and universities, including Smith College and Ulster University in Northern Ireland. She is a member of important groups like the Council on Foreign Relations and the Trilateral Commission.
