Biography of Colleen P. Graffy

Colleen Graffy assumed her duties as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs in September 2005. In this capacity, Ms. Graffy oversees public diplomacy and public affairs programs for the Bureau and coordinates efforts with Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs James Glassman. Prior to her current position, she was the Academic Director and Associate Professor of Law at the London Law Program for Pepperdine University School of Law.

Originally from Santa Barbara, California, Ms. Graffy earned her BA from Pepperdine University and her MA from Boston University. She then served as co-director of Pepperdine's Year-in-Europe program in Heidelberg, Germany.

Ms. Graffy completed the Diploma in Law in London. After attending the Inns of Court School of Law, she was called to the Bar of England and Wales as a Barrister of the Middle Temple and received her LLM through King's College, University of London with Merit. As academic director of the London Program, she was in charge of the London Moot and Clinical Program and taught International Public Law, International Environmental Law, International Law and the Use of Force, and Legal Ethics. Altogether, she has resided nearly 20 years in London, where she was often invited by the media to communicate the U.S. point of view on international issues.

Ms. Graffy is a member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, The Royal Institute of International Affairs, The British Institute of International and Comparative Law, The Pilgrims, and The British American Project and was Chairman of the Society of English and American Lawyers. She is a Bencher at the Middle Temple.

Deputy Assistant Secretary Graffy has written on legal issues in the United States and Britain and is a frequent commentator for radio and television on transatlantic political, legal, and cultural issues.

Released by the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, September 2005 (revised October 2008)