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 Bachelors 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]

Service as U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg

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 the Washington Post on February 4, 2011.

References

1. ^ U.S. State Department biography page
2. ^ talkingpointsmemo.com, February 4, 2011
3. ^ Seattle Times, March 11, 2001
4. ^ U.S. State Department biography page
5. ^ SeattlePI.com, September 12, 2009
6. ^ talkingpointsmemo.com, February 4, 2011
7. ^ Report of Inspection, Embassy Luxembourg, Report Number ISP-I-11-17A, January 2011
8. ^ talkingpointsmemo.com, February 4, 2011

External links

• US Embassy in Luxembourg

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Ann Wagner	United States Ambassador to Luxembourg 2009-2011	Succeeded by Vacant

Persondata
Name	Stroum, Cynthia
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