A conversation with former U.S. Ambassador to Rwanda Erica Barks-Ruggles and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Holt
Ambassador Barks-Ruggles served for over 32 years in senior leadership and diplomatic positions at the U.S. Department including vast experience with the UN System. Ms. Holt is a foreign policy analyst, professor and former diplomat and Congressional staffer, as well as an expert on peace operations. They will talk about their experiences as women leaders in international affairs and diplomacy, the advancements, challenges and opportunities for those interested in careers in international affairs.
Erica Barks-Ruggles
Ambassador Erica Barks-Ruggles served for over 32 years in senior leadership and diplomatic positions at the U.S. Department of State. For her final posting in 2023-2024, Ambassador Barks-Ruggles led the successful U.S. effort to rejoin UNESCO, re-establishing U.S. leadership in the UN’s lead institution on AI and emerging technology ethics, education standards, and cultural preservation. Ambassador Barks-Ruggles has served in many positions over the course of her career, including Director for African Affairs at the National Security Council at the White House; Deputy Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor overseeing international human rights, and democracy programming in the Middle East and South and Central Asia.
Victoria K. Holt
Victoria K. Holt boasts a 30+ year career in international affairs and diplomacy, serving in the Obama Administration as a US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, as a Vice President of the Stimson Center in Washington DC, and as an adjunct professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. She has worked for members of Congress, led non-profit organizations, and served in the Clinton Administration’s State Department. Holt has spoken and published widely on US and international affairs, including peace operations, the protection of civilians, and modern conflicts. She is a graduate of the Naval War College and Wesleyan University.
Presented by the Warburg Program.