Strengthening European-American Relations

Karen Donfried F88, FG91

As she completed her undergraduate studies at Wesleyan University, Karen Donfried sought out graduate schools in international relations. The Fletcher School was at the top of her list, as she filled out applications for admission. She simultaneously applied for fellowships to study abroad and was offered the opportunity to study in Munich, Germany, at the Ludwig Maximilians University. As an undergrad double major in government and German, Karen was drawn to Germany's unique geopolitical position: “At that time, during the Cold War, the Iron Curtain ran through the middle of Germany. As someone interested in international relations, Germany was a fascinating place to be.”

Academic Mentorship at Fletcher 

Karen's decision to continue her studies at Fletcher led her from Munich to Medford. Upon completing her Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy (MALD), she opted to remain at Fletcher to pursue her doctorate, because she had found a stellar mentor in Professor Benjamin ‘Jerry’ Cohen, a leading figure in international political economy. Karen’s dissertation explored U.S.-West German relations and the efficacy of issue linkage—connecting unrelated issues such as military security and economic power to extract concessions. 

Navigating Career Crossroads and Pursuing Diplomacy

Armed with a PhD, Karen thought she was heading to a career in academia. However, her path took an unexpected turn when, at a think tank event in DC, she met a Congressional Research Service specialist, who mentioned that CRS was hiring a Germany analyst. Intrigued by the opportunity, she applied, was offered the position, and spent ten years at CRS, supporting Members and staff working on transatlantic relations.

The expertise and network she built during her tenure at CRS provided job opportunities that took her to the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF), the State Department’s Policy Planning Staff, the National Intelligence Council, and the National Security Council.  Most recently, she served as the first female president of GMF from 2014 to 2021, and as the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs from 2021 to 2023, a tenure marked by Russia’s brutal, full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.  She currently serves as a Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard’s Kennedy School.

As Karen reflects on her career, she credits the skills she honed at Fletcher – from rigorous analysis to effective teamwork – as vital to professional success.  And the one happy constant in every position she has held has been the opportunity to work with other Fletcher alumni.