Liz Allen, a veteran at the U.S. State Department and politician, has been sworn in as the new Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. Allen has traversed the State Department, working in different capacities. Her appointment as Under Secretary is her sixth position at the State Department, making her one of the most experienced and resourceful women in the U.S. State Department.
She began her career as a young intern at the State Department. Her first experience was at the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues on Afghan women’s issues. She has a great memory of her early days at work.
“I remember Secretary Condoleezza Rice taking the time to meet with us; engaging with her was the highlight of my internship,” She said.
Her first job as a College graduate was at the US Department of State’s INL, where she worked in the office tasked with handling human trafficking issues.
She went on to work with Education and Cultural Affairs at the State Department. As the Communications Director at the Department, she worked on various projects aimed at empowering youths across the globe, including young leaders drawn from the Washington Fellowship.
In 2022, as the head of Global Public Affairs, Allen was instrumental in countering fake news and disinformation in the early days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. She is expected to bring her wealth of experience to bear in her new role.
Allen was preceded by Jennifer Hall Godfrey. Until her appointment, she had served as the Senior Official for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, and as the acting Under Secretary.
