Elise Kleinwaks -  Former Guest Speaker at the Leadership Institute

Elise Kleinwaks, a member of the career Senior Foreign Service, joined the State Department 30 years ago as a Political Officer. She is currently the Diplomat in Residence for the DC Metro region. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, she worked at the U.S. Department of Commerce on Middle East trade issues and also worked in the private sector. Elise has served overseas in Israel, Vietnam, Nicaragua, and Bosnia. She was part of a small team of Foreign Service Officers who helped reestablish diplomatic relations with Vietnam.

Her numerous DC positions include: Deputy Director for worldwide refugee admissions, country desk officer three times (Macedonia, Guatemala and the Philippines), and Director of Orientation for all new State Department employees. She has also served twice as an assessor for the Board of Examiners. Elise has had the privilege of travelling to 88 countries.

Proud to be from The Bronx, New York, Elise holds a BA from Albany State University (1981) and a Masters in Public Administration from Princeton University (1984). Elise and her husband have two daughters, one in college and one in high school.

Elise Kleinwaks