Trailblazer in Diplomacy: Mary Ann Casey on Leadership, Legacy, and Women in International Affairs

Mary Ann Casey (International Affairs, 1970) is a retired U.S. Ambassador and an Honorary IAFS Board Member. With a distinguished career in diplomacy, she remains a dedicated supporter of IAFS students through the Casey Family Global Grant Scholarship, which helps fund study abroad opportunities for current IAFS students.

What sparked your interest in international affairs, and how did your time at the University of Colorado Boulder shape your career path?  

A ten-week “Grand European Tour” in my early teens proved to be a game-changer.  From that moment on, I knew I was destined for a career in international affairs. CU taught me International Politics, Diplomatic History, Economic Theory, and Global Finance, as well as two foreign languages. It also helped refine my critical thinking skills and problem-solving abilities. All that knowledge helped make for future success at every point along the way. 

Serving as the U.S. Ambassador to both Algeria and Tunisia, what were some of the most significant challenges you faced, and how did you navigate them?

Overseas, good security takes priority, particularly when the political climate is volatile, as was the case in Algeria. Civil strife makes for uncertainty and complicates efforts to conduct business in a normal fashion. Finding a balanced approach depended on close collaboration with the local authorities as well as with one’s own team, including Washington-based members of that team. In Tunisia, long-standing relations offered opportunities for joint programs on multiple fronts in order to enhance bilateral interests. Likewise, promotion of political inclusivity and human rights was an important part of my portfolio. That included support for Tunisia’s vibrant women’s movement. 

What advice would you offer to young women pursuing careers in international affairs and diplomacy today?

Careers in international affairs and diplomacy offer an opportunity to make a substantive difference in life. Also, there will likely never be a dull moment. Not every profession can make such claims. Go for it! As preparation, I recommend you: A) travel as much as you can; B) seek out  opportunities to demonstrate that you can live successfully in someone else’s country; C) learn to speak another language (any language will do); and D) take the Foreign Service Exam early on.

As we celebrate Women's History Month, how do you view the progress of women in diplomacy, and what steps do you believe are essential for advancing gender equality in this field?

In the early days, US diplomats were all men. Mid twentieth century, that began to change. However, unlike their male colleagues, women who elected to marry were obliged to resign from the Foreign Service. A lawsuit eventually changed that, along with other discriminatory practices. Today, women make up about 40% of the Foreign Service, though, according to the American Foreign Service Association, they continue to be less well-represented in the senior ranks (approximately 30%). Continued progress for women will depend on adequate representation in the entry and mid-level ranks, along with equitable job opportunities. On an individual level, nothing succeeds like challenging assignments, dedicated service on the front lines, and, of course, unassailable professional competency. 

You established the Casey Family Global Grants Endowment to support students studying abroad. What motivated you to create this endowment, and what impact do you hope it will have on students? 

As a passionate internationalist, I am keen to promote broader understanding of the world beyond the borders of the United States. What better way to accomplish that objective than by creating a scholarship to support education abroad for IAFS majors? Learning the art of global citizenry benefits the IAFS student as well as the US at large. It is the gift that keeps on giving. Hopefully, each Global Grantee will return home with a life-long ability to appreciate better the wonders and challenges of a global world. 

Visit the CU Giving Page and search for the Casey Family Global Grants Endowment Fund to continue Mary Ann's legacy of supporting education abroad for IAFS majors.