Swanee Hunt

Swanee Hunt is Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy, is Director of the Women and Public Policy Program at the Kennedy School.

Her biographical note states that she was U.S. Ambassador to Austria for four years and that she "focused her energies both on peace projects concerning the conflict in the neighboring Balkan states and work with women leaders throughout Eastern Europe culminating in a major piece published in the Journal of Foreign Affairs, the July 1997 "Vital Voices: Women in Democracy," and the film documentary 'Voices'." 

"In recognition of her extensive work, she was named 'Woman of Peace' by the Together for Peace Foundation in Rome. Hunt has contributed scores of articles to American and international newspapers and professional journals and is currently a contributing editor of The American Benefactor. She has a BA in philosophy, two master's degrees (in psychology and religion), and a doctorate in theology," her biographical note states.

"President of Hunt Alternatives Fund, she also chairs The Initiative for Inclusive Security (including the Women Waging Peace Network), which advocates for the full participation of all stakeholders, particularly women, in conflict prevention and resolution. She has conducted trainings for women all over the world, including 70 of the highest-ranking women in post-war Iraq and 130 women leaders in Sudan." 

"From 1993 to 1997, Hunt served as Ambassador to Austria. During her tenure she hosted negotiations and several international symposia focused on stabilizing the neighboring Balkan states. Hunt became a specialist in the role of women in post-communist Europe, and in July 1997, she launched "Vital Voices: Women in Democracy," a conference convening 320 women leaders in business, law, and politics from 39 countries. The conference spawned the film documentary "Voices" as well as an ensuing State Department initiative led by Madeleine Albright and Hillary Rodham Clinton. Ambassador Hunt's work in Europe inspired the creation of Women Waging Peace, an initiative she incubated at the Kennedy School, which advocates for the full participation of women in peace processes."


 * Director, Uganda Fund
 * US board member of the International Crisis Group
 * 2004 Advisory Council for the Women's Foreign Policy Group
 * Former Director, International Alert
 * Advisory Board, United In Diversity

Her sister is Helen LaKelly Hunt.