Samantha Power facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Samantha Power
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Power in 2023
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| 19th Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development | |
| In office May 3, 2021 – January 20, 2025 |
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| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Mark Green |
| Succeeded by | Jason Gray (acting) |
| 28th United States Ambassador to the United Nations | |
| In office August 5, 2013 – January 20, 2017 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Deputy | Rosemary DiCarlo Michele J. Sison |
| Preceded by | Susan Rice |
| Succeeded by | Nikki Haley |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Samantha Jane Power
September 21, 1970 London, England |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Cass Sunstein
(m. 2008) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Yale University (BA) Harvard University (JD) |
Samantha Jane Power (born September 21, 1970) is an Irish-American journalist and diplomat. She has held important roles in the United States government. From 2021 to 2025, she was the leader of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Before that, she served as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations from 2013 to 2017. Power is a member of the Democratic Party.
She started her career as a war correspondent, reporting on conflicts like the Yugoslav Wars. Later, she focused on human rights. She helped create the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at Harvard Kennedy School. Power also worked as a senior advisor for Senator Barack Obama.
In the Obama administration, she worked on the United States National Security Council. She helped the president make decisions about international affairs and human rights. Power strongly believes in countries helping to stop terrible events like genocide. She was a key person in convincing President Obama to take action in Libya in 2011.
Power is known for her work on preventing genocide. She won a Pulitzer Prize in 2003 for her book A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide. This book looked at how the U.S. has responded to genocides throughout history. She has also received other awards for her work. In 2016, Forbes magazine listed her as one of the most powerful women in the world.
In 2021, President Joe Biden chose Power to lead USAID. This agency helps other countries with development and humanitarian aid. The US Senate approved her nomination on April 28, 2021.
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Early life and education
Samantha Power was born in London, England, on September 21, 1970. Her parents were from Ireland. Her mother, Vera Delaney, was a kidney doctor and played field hockey. Her father, Jim Power, was a dentist and played the piano.
She grew up in Ireland until she was nine years old. She lived in Castleknock, a part of Dublin. She went to Mount Anville Montessori Junior School. In 1979, her mother moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Samantha moved with her.
She went to Lakeside High School in Atlanta, Georgia. She was part of the cross country and basketball teams there. She later earned her bachelor's degree in History from Yale University. She then got her law degree from Harvard Law School. In 1993, when she was 23, she became a U.S. citizen.
Career highlights
After college, Power worked as a researcher at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. From 1993 to 1996, she worked as a war correspondent. She reported on the Yugoslav Wars for several news organizations. These included U.S. News & World Report and The Boston Globe.
When she returned to the U.S., she went to Harvard Law School. Her first book, A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide, came from a paper she wrote in law school. This book won the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction in 2003. It looked at how the U.S. has reacted to genocides. Power has always believed that the U.S. should use military force to stop genocide.
She has also written other books. These include Chasing the Flame: Sergio Vieira de Mello and the Fight to Save the World (2008). Another is The Education of an Idealist: A Memoir (2019).
From 1998 to 2002, Power was the first Executive Director of the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at Harvard Kennedy School. She later became a professor there.
In 2004, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Working with Barack Obama
From 2005 to 2006, Power worked for U.S. Senator Barack Obama. She helped him learn about the Darfur conflict. She was a senior foreign policy advisor for Obama's 2008 presidential campaign.
After Obama won the 2008 election, Power joined his team. In January 2009, President Obama appointed her to the United States National Security Council. She was a Special Assistant to the President. She worked on international issues and human rights.
While on the National Security Council, Power pushed for military action in Libya in 2011. This was during the Libyan Civil War. She, along with Hillary Clinton and Susan Rice, urged Obama to get a UN Security Council resolution. This resolution allowed international forces to protect civilians in Libya. Power left the National Security Council in February 2013.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
On June 5, 2013, President Barack Obama nominated Samantha Power to be the new United States Ambassador to the United Nations.
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Many people supported her nomination. These included Republican senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham. She also received support from various Jewish organizations and leaders.
Some people did not support her nomination. Former U.S. ambassador to the UN John R. Bolton criticized her for an article she wrote in 2003.
The U.S. Senate confirmed Power as UN ambassador on August 1, 2013. The vote was 87 to 10. She was sworn in a day later.
Her time as Ambassador
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In September 2013, Power spoke about the use of chemical weapons in Syria. She said that evidence showed the Assad government had used them. She criticized the United Nations for not being able to stop such terrible acts.
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In 2014, during the crisis in Ukraine, Power urged Russia to remove its military forces from Crimea. She asked Russia to let the Ukrainian people choose their own government freely.
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In July 2014, Power supported Israel's right to defend itself during a conflict. In December 2016, she supported the Obama administration's decision not to stop a UN resolution against Israeli settlements. She stated that these settlements hurt the chances for peace.
Power also spoke about LGBT rights around the world. She noted that while there was progress in the U.S., the situation was getting worse for LGBT people in some other countries.
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In March 2015, Power expressed concern about European countries cutting defense spending. She said this was risky given global challenges like the Ebola crisis and the threat from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
Power has been criticized for the Obama administration's failure to recognize the Armenian genocide. She had long advocated for this recognition. In her memoir, she described her efforts to convince President Obama. She apologized for the administration's failure on Twitter in 2017.
In 2016, speaking about the situation in Syria, Power strongly criticized Russia. She said Russia's actions were "barbarism" and that they were bombing hospitals and aid convoys.
In her last major speech as UN Ambassador, Power said the world must stop what she called a Russian attack on the world order. She mentioned Russia's actions in Crimea and Syria. She argued that easing punishments on Russia would only encourage them.
Honors and awards
Barnard College gave Power its highest award, the 2015 Barnard Medal of Distinction. This was for her book A Problem from Hell and her work against genocide. She also received the 2016 Henry A. Kissinger Prize. In 2017, she was awarded the Ulysses Medal by University College Dublin. In 2019, she received the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Prize. She also gave a commencement speech at Indiana University and received an honorary degree.
After the Obama administration
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In April 2017, Power joined the faculty at Harvard Law School and Harvard Kennedy School. She is involved with the Carr Center and the Belfer Center. She also teaches a class with her husband, Cass Sunstein.
She holds positions on the boards of several organizations. These include the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity and the International Refugee Assistance Project.
In October 2018, Power commented on the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. She tweeted that Saudi Arabia's explanations were not believable.
Biden administration
In January 2021, President-elect Joe Biden nominated Power to lead the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). She was confirmed on April 28, 2021, and sworn in on May 3. As USAID Administrator, Power has overseen large amounts of foreign aid during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Personal life
On July 4, 2008, Samantha Power married law professor Cass Sunstein. They met while working on the Obama campaign. They were married in a church in Waterville, County Kerry, Ireland.
They have two children. Their son was born on April 24, 2009. Their daughter was born on June 1, 2012. Power is a Catholic.
Images for kids
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Samantha Power in 2023
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Power's first portrait as US Ambassador
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Power with President Barack Obama in the Oval Office on June 5, 2013
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Power with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, February 15, 2016
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Power with South Sudanese President Salva Kiir in Washington, D.C., August 6, 2014
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Power with Secretary of State John Kerry at a UN meeting, October 2, 2015
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Power with John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, September 29, 2015
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Power, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Representative Tom Malinowski at the funeral of John McCain, September 1, 2018
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Power meeting with Denys Shmyhal in Ukraine, 2023
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Church of Mary Immaculate, Lohar, Waterville
See also
In Spanish: Samantha Power para niños
