Anne Chermak
Visiting Professor
Public Diplomat in Residence 2007-2008
 
Anne M. Chermak is a career member of the State Department's Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Minister Counselor. During service in posts spanning Europe and Eurasia, including Madrid, Rome, Belgrade, Sofia, Bonn, Berlin and Moscow, she has promoted U.S. national security interests and developed a stronger basis for the understanding of U.S. policies at a time of extraordinary transition.

Anne Chermak served as Minister Counselor for Public Affairs at the two largest U.S. diplomatic Missions in Europe and Eurasia: Moscow and Berlin. In Moscow from 2001 to 2003, she directed the State Department's largest overseas exchange program with a budget of $40 million, expanding democratic development in Russia through academic and professional exchanges for 5,000 persons annually and the establishment of multiple small U.S. information centers, called American Corners, throughout the country. Her advocacy and promotion of this innovative, low-cost public diplomacy platform contributed to its successful implementation by U.S. Embassies around the world. She also managed the Embassy's press and information office.

In 2003-2004, Anne Chermak was the first U.S. diplomat to serve as visiting professor at the Moscow State Institute for International Affairs, Russia's leading international affairs university.

From 2004 to 2007 as head of the Public Affairs Section in Germany, encompassing Embassy Berlin and five consulates, Ms. Chermak significantly expanded outreach to the media and the U.S. Mission's engagement with Muslim minorities, developing new public-private partnerships to support exchanges. She also served as Chairperson of the German-American Fulbright Commission and the RIAS (Radio in the American Sector) Commission for broadcast journalism exchanges.

Anne Chermak has held senior public diplomacy positions in Washington. From 1989 to 1991, she was Deputy Director of the Office of the President's East European Initiative, which was instrumental in shaping new programs to promote democracy and free markets in Central and Eastern Europe.

Ms. Chermak received a B.A. degree with honors in History and Russian Language and Literature from the University of Michigan and has participated in executive leadership seminars conducted by Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Fall 2007 Course
PUBD 504: Global Issues in Public Diplomacy. Co-taught by Anne M. Chermak and Nicholas Cull

Spring 2008 Course
PUBD 500 Level: Regional Issues in Public Diplomacy - Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia