Experts

Mara Rudman

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

Mara Rudman analyzes the state of negotiations for a cease fire between Israel and Hamas that would bring Israeli hostages home, get more desperately needed humanitarian aid in, and start preparing for what comes next for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, and for PM Netanyahu and Israel.
Mara Rudman BBC News America
Mara Rudman discusses the United States' direct talks with the Syrian rebel government.
Mara Rudman Bloomberg Balance of Power
Mara Rudman discussed challenges with getting to Israel-Hezbollah cease-fire.
Mara Rudman BBC News
Mara Rudman talked about U.S. foreign policy after President-elect Trump’s victory, and how his administration team is shaping up so far.
Mara Rudman C-SPAN
University of Virginia's Mara Rudman on Israel's strikes on Iran.
Mara Rudman Bloomberg
This vision of the region — where Iran is countered, Israel’s right to exist is no longer denied, a pathway to a future Palestinian state is assured, and the ideological oxygen and tangible resources that fuel Iran’s proxies are turned off — is possible with partnership from the United States led by a strong, level-headed president.
Mara Rudman Pittsburgh Post-Gazette