President Obama Nominates Azita Raji as U.S. Ambassador to Sweden
October 30, 2014, Washington, D.C. – The Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA) congratulates Azita Raji on her nomination as the U.S. Ambassador to Sweden. Once her nomination is confirmed by the Senate, Raji will be the first Iranian American to serve as a U.S. ambassador as well as the first female U.S. ambassador to Sweden.
Born in Tehran, Iran, Raji is a former Wall Street executive and former vice president of J.P. Morgan Securities as well as an expert on global financial markets, economics, and business strategy. Since 2008, Raji has served on the national advisory board of the Democratic National Committee, while also acting as the National Finance Chair and Chair of the Swing State Victory Fund for the Obama campaign in 2012.
In addition, Raji maintains numerous leadership roles in the non-profit sector by serving as a co-founder, trustee, and/or advisor on commissions and boards including the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships, Barnard College, Columbia Business School’s Social Enterprise Program, Athena Center for Leadership Studies at Barnard College, Economic Advisory Council of the Center for American Progress, National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution, and National Partnership for Women and Families.
Raji has spent much of her life living and working in the Middle East, the Far East, Western Europe, and Latin America. She also speaks several languages including Persian and French. Her time abroad has afforded her a unique cultural awareness and global perspective.
Raji holds a B.A. in architecture and French from Barnard College, Columbia University, and an M.B.A. in finance from Columbia Business School. Before coming to the United States she attended an international high school in Lausanne, Switzerland, where she was a competitive downhill skier and chess player.
Biographical information about Raji was taken from The President’s Commission on White House Fellowships website.
