Cynthia Stroum
Cynthia Stroum served as the United States Ambassador to Luxembourg from December 7, 2009[1] to January 31, 2011.[2]
Background and education
Stroum comes from a wealthy, well-known philanthropic Jewish family in Seattle.[3] She received a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and Journalism from the University of Southern California, and worked in the TV and film industries.[4] She was a major donor to the Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray from her home state of Washington,[5] and to Barack Obama's presidential campaign.[6]
Management of Embassy Luxembourg controversy
Inspectors from the State Department Inspector General's office visited the U.S. Embassy in Luxembourg in October and November 2010. According to their report,[7] released two weeks after Stroum announced her resignation, her "confrontational management style, chronic gaps in senior and other staffing caused by curtailments, and the absence of a sense of direction have brought major elements of Embassy Luxembourg to a state of dysfunction." The report also criticized Stroum for spending excessive time supervising the repair of the ambassador's residence and for obtaining an improper reimbursement for the purchase of a mattress.[8] In addition, there were apparently large unwarranted purchases made for wine and liquour according to an article in the Washington Post on February 4, 2011.
References
- ↑ U.S. State Department biography page archived version
- ↑ talkingpointsmemo.com, February 4, 2011
- ↑ Seattle Times, March 11, 2001
- ↑ U.S. State Department biography page Archived January 3, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ SeattlePI.com, September 12, 2009
- ↑ talkingpointsmemo.com, February 4, 2011
- ↑ Report of Inspection, Embassy Luxembourg, Report Number ISP-I-11-17A, January 2011
- ↑ talkingpointsmemo.com, February 4, 2011
External links
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Diplomatic posts | ||
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Preceded by Ann Wagner |
United States Ambassador to Luxembourg 2009-2011 |
Succeeded by Robert A. Mandell |