Dr. Jendayi Frazer

Distinguished Service Professor at Carnegie Mellon University; Former US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs

Place of Birth: Virginia

Education: BA Political Science and African and Afro-American Studies, 1985; MA International Policy Studies, 1985, MA International Development Education, Stanford University, 1989; PhD Political Science, Stanford University, 1994: Stanford University, USA.

Career:  Research Associate and Lecturer, Institute for Development Studies, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya, 1989-90; Visiting Fellow, Center for International Security and Arms Control, Stanford University, California, USA, 1991-93; Assistant Professor, Graduate School of International Studies, 1993-95; Editor, Africa Today Journal, 1993-96: University of Denver, Denver, USA; Assistant Professor of Public Policy, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, 1995-2002; Political-Military Planner, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Department of Defence, Washington, 1998-99; Director of African Affairs, National Security Council, Washington, 1999; Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs, National Security Council, Washington, 2001-05; United States Ambassador to South Africa, U.S. Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa, 2004-05; Board Member, Africa Development Foundation, Washington, 2005-09;   Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Department of State, Washington, 2005-09.

Commentary: Jendayi E. Frazer was sworn in as Assistant Secretary for African Affairs on August 29, 2005. Prior to her current assignment, Dr. Frazer served as U.S. Ambassador to South Africa. Immediately before her ambassadorship, Dr. Frazer served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director of African Affairs at the National Security Council. Prior to joining the George W. Bush Administration, Dr. Frazer taught public policy at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. Dr. Frazer brought practical experience to that position, having worked as a political-military planner with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and as Director for African Affairs at the National Security Council, during her time as a Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellow.

Her doctoral dissertation examined Kenya's civilian-military relationship. Security issues remain of interest to Dr. Frazer, who regularly speaks to military audiences and about military-related issues in Africa.