Dr. Samantha Power

Biography

Samantha Power is the William D. Zabel '61 Professor of Practice in Human Rights at Harvard Law School and holds a joint appointment at the Harvard Kennedy School as the Anna Lindh Professor of Practice in Global Leadership and Public Policy. She served as the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) from 2021 to 2025, during which time she was involved in major global initiatives including the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to developing countries and addressing lead poisoning, which impacts 1.6 million people each year. Previously, Power was the 28th Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations from 2013 to 2017, where she dealt with significant issues such as the Ebola epidemic and climate change policy. An acclaimed author, her works include "A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide," which won a Pulitzer Prize, and her memoir, "Education of an Idealist," which became a bestseller. Power commenced her career as a journalist before moving to government roles, including as Special Assistant to the President on the National Security Council, focusing on human rights and multilateral affairs. She has been recognized multiple times for her contributions to foreign policy and human rights advocacy and was named one of the "100 Most Powerful Women" by Forbes.

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