Rena Pederson

Rena Pederson is expected to join the U.S. Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs in Fall 2006.

Pederson has held senior posts at The Dallas Morning News since 1973; she's the paper's former editor-at-large and longtime editorial page editor. She co-chaired The Pulitzer Prize board for nine years and was named one of the most powerful women in Texas by Texas Monthly magazine. She's authored two books, ''What’s Next? Women Redefining Their Dreams in the Prime of Life and What’s Missing? Inspiration for Women Seeking Faith and Joy in Their Lives''. CNN has described Pederson as a "good friend of Harriet Miers." 

In August 2006, DMN reported that Pederson "plans to move to Washington this fall to work with Karen Hughes, undersecretary of state for public diplomacy. ... In her new job at the State Department, she said, she’ll write speeches and counsel on communications strategy." 

From her official bios, Pederson seems not to have much foreign affairs experience, though she did chair the Dallas Committee on Foreign Relations and visited Iraq in Spring 2004, to "learn about women’s roles and rights in Iraq." 

SourceWatch Resources

 * Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs
 * Karen P. Hughes
 * Department of State
 * Department of State "rapid response office"
 * Dina Habib Powell
 * Public Diplomacy