Experts

Mara Rudman

James R. Schlesinger Distinguished Professor

Mara Rudman

James R. Schlesinger Distinguished Professor

Fast Facts

  • Served in both the Obama and Clinton administrations, including as deputy assistant to the president for national security affairs
  • Director, Ripples of Hope Project
  • Former deputy envoy and chief of staff for the Office of the Special Envoy for Middle East Peace, U.S. Department of State
  • Expertise in foreign affairs, diplomacy, national security, the Middle East

Areas Of Expertise

  • Foreign Affairs
  • American Defense and Security
  • War and Terrorism
  • Middle East
  • Governance
  • The Presidency

Mara Rudman is the James R. Schlesinger Distinguished Professor at the Miller Center, where she directs the Ripples of Hope Project aimed at identifying practical approaches to help democratic leaders resolve key challenges. 

She serves on the 2022 National Defense Strategy Commission and the Howard University College of Arts and Sciences board of visitors. Rudman also consults for Democracy Forward. 

Rudman’s government positions have included serving as deputy assistant to the president for national security affairs in the Obama and Clinton administrations; deputy envoy for the Office of the Special Envoy for Middle East Peace at the U.S. Department of State; assistant administrator for the Middle East at the U.S. Agency for International Development; and chief counsel to the House Foreign Affairs Committee.  

Previously, Rudman was executive vice president for policy at the Center for American Progress and senior vice president for policy/projects at Business Executives for National Security. She also led Quorum Strategies, a geopolitical strategic advisory firm. Rudman has been a guest on numerous TV and radio shows and has written for and been quoted in various print publications. She received her BA from Dartmouth College and a law degree from Harvard Law School.

Mara Rudman News Feed

"The Presidency has a bully pulpit. And a bully is occupying it currently," Mara Rudman told BBC News, in discussing Trump's comments on making Gaza a "Riviera" at the cost of relocating all its residents, and why such language harms, including impact on ceasefire negotiations to bring home all hostages still held in brutal Hamas conditions.
Mara Rudman BBC News
Mara Rudman joins Bloomberg's "Balance of Power" to discuss the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal, calling it "possible" and "very important in the interest of all involved."
Mara Rudman Bloomberg Balance of Power
Mara Rudman discusses the release of hostages back to Israel this past week by Hamas and President Trump's "suggestion" to Jordan and Egypt that they "clean" Gaza by taking in 2 million Palestinians for whom Gaza is home, strongly resisted by both countries and other Arab foreign ministers.
Mara Rudman CNN
Mara Rudman discussses the importance of continued implementation of all phases of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire.
Mara Rudman BBC News America
Mara Rudman discusses the Gaza ceasefire deal.
Mara Rudman BBC World Service Newshour Radio
Mara Rudman discusses the Gaza ceasefire deal.
Mara Rudman BBC News