Frazier
Jendayi E.
Jendayi E. Frazer joined the faculty at Carnegie Mellon University in 2009 as Distinguished Public Service Professor with joint appointments in the Department of Social and Decision Sciences, and in the H. John Heinz College’s School of Public Policy and Management. Her current research focuses on strengthening regional security cooperation and economic and political integration in Africa. She is the Director of Carnegie Mellon’s new Center for International Policy and Innovation (CIPI) that focuses on utilizing technology and applying innovative solutions to core issues of development and governance in Africa.
Ambassador Frazer served as the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs from August 2005 to January 2009. She was Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs at the National Security Council from January 2001 until her swearing-in as the first woman U.S. Ambassador to South Africa in June 2004. As a Council on Foreign Relation’s International Affairs Fellow, Frazer served at the Pentagon from August 2008 to March 2009 with the Joint Chiefs of Staff as a political-military planner working on West Africa during Nigeria’s transition to civilian rule, and as Director at the National Security Council from March 2009 to December 2009 working on central and east Africa.
In July 2010, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia awarded Frazer with the distinction of Dame Grand Commander in the Humane Order of African Redemption in recognition to her contributions to end Liberia’s civil war and restore peace and democracy to the country. Frazer is the recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal in January 2009, the highest award bestowed by the Secretary of State. She was also honored with the 2008 Distinguished Leadership Award from the African Presidential Archives & Research Center at Boston University.
Professor Frazer previously was Assistant Professor of Public Policy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, and Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of International Studies, University of Denver. Frazer is a member of The American Academy of Diplomacy, the Council on Foreign Relations, the International Studies Association, the African Studies Association, and the American Political Science Association. Frazer also serves as an Advisory Board Member of the technology and communications company Africa.com, and on the Editorial Board of Africa Today journal.
Dr. Frazer received her B.A. degree in Political Science (honors) and African and Afro-American Studies (distinction) in 1985, and M.A. degrees in International Policy Studies in 1985 and International Development Education in 1989, and a Ph.D. in Political Science, 1994 all from Stanford University.