Constance Berry Newman
Encyclopedia
Constance Ernestine Berry Newman (born on July 8, 1935 in Chicago
, Illinois
) was the United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs from June 2004 to April 2005.
, Maine in 1956 and her J.D. in law from University of Minnesota Law School
in 1959.
from 1962 to 1967. She worked with migrant farmers in the Office of Economic Development from 1967 to 1969. From 1969 to 1971 she served as Special Assistant to Elliot Richardson
, who headed what is now known as the Department of Health and Human Services
. In 1971, United States President Richard Nixon
appointed Newman to serve as director of VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America), the domestic Peace Corps. She served as the Commissioner and Vice Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission from 1973 to 1976. She received her Doctor of Laws, Bates College in 1972. Newman oversaw the consumer unit focused on Indian and elderly affairs as the Assistant Director of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development from 1976 to 1977. She co-founded Newman and Hermanson Company, a consulting firm specializing in the government regulatory procedures from 1977.
project in which she lived and worked in the Southern African country of Lesotho
. Newman received the "Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service" in 1985. She worked as the Cooperative Housing Foundation consultant on a World Bank project in Lesotho to merge existing housing corporations into one that was structured to receive World Bank funding from 1987 to 1988. She then served as the Director of the United States Office of Personnel Management from 1989 to 1992. Newman received the "Central State University" award in 1991. She began a serious undertaking of re-inventing of the OPM, involving unions, the personnel community, managers' associations in strategic planning for federal human resources management. Also, she focused on civil servants' role in delivering critical public services. As Under Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution from 1992 to 2000, she received the Joseph Henry Medal in 2000, the Smithsonian's highest award for recognition of her distinguished service, achievements and contributions to the prestige and growth of the Smithsonian Institution. At around the same time, from 1994 to 2000 as a Board Member and Vice Chair of the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority, and from 1998 to 2001 as a Board Member of the International Republican Institute. She won the "Washingtonian of the Year" award in 1998.
appointed her U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs. She had a central role in several aspects of U.S. Africa policy. She helped determine that "genocide has been committed" in Sudan's Darfur region for Colin Powell
's speech in September 2004.
She resigned in April 2005 and Jendayi Frazer
replaced her. She is a member of the board of directors of the International Republican Institute
.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
) was the United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs from June 2004 to April 2005.
Early life
Constance Berry Newman is the daughter of a social worker and nurse. Her father was a physician. She received her high school diploma from Tuskegee Institute High School, located on the campus of the Tuskegee University, where she was an honor roll student and active in the Government Club, in 1951. She got her B.S. Political Science, Bates CollegeBates College
Bates College is a highly selective, private liberal arts college located in Lewiston, Maine, in the United States. and was most recently ranked 21st in the nation in the 2011 US News Best Liberal Arts Colleges rankings. The college was founded in 1855 by abolitionists...
, Maine in 1956 and her J.D. in law from University of Minnesota Law School
University of Minnesota Law School
The University of Minnesota Law School, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, is a professional school of the University of Minnesota. The school offers a Juris Doctor , Masters of Law for Foreign Lawyers, and joint degrees with J.D./M.B.A., J.D./M.P.A, J.D./M.A., J.D./M.S., J.D./Ph.D.,...
in 1959.
1960s and 1970s
Newman worked as a clerk typist, personnel assistant, and personnel manager with the United States Department of the InteriorUnited States Department of the Interior
The United States Department of the Interior is the United States federal executive department of the U.S. government responsible for the management and conservation of most federal land and natural resources, and the administration of programs relating to Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native...
from 1962 to 1967. She worked with migrant farmers in the Office of Economic Development from 1967 to 1969. From 1969 to 1971 she served as Special Assistant to Elliot Richardson
Elliot Richardson
Elliot Lee Richardson was an American lawyer and politician who was a member of the cabinet of Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. As U.S...
, who headed what is now known as the Department of Health and Human Services
United States Department of Health and Human Services
The United States Department of Health and Human Services is a Cabinet department of the United States government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. Its motto is "Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America"...
. In 1971, United States President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
appointed Newman to serve as director of VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America), the domestic Peace Corps. She served as the Commissioner and Vice Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission from 1973 to 1976. She received her Doctor of Laws, Bates College in 1972. Newman oversaw the consumer unit focused on Indian and elderly affairs as the Assistant Director of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development from 1976 to 1977. She co-founded Newman and Hermanson Company, a consulting firm specializing in the government regulatory procedures from 1977.
1980s and 1990s
Newman won the Amherst College award in 1980. She worked as President of the Institute of American Business from 1982 to 1984, and as a Private Consultant from 1984 to 1987 on issues related to Africa, working on a World BankWorld Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
project in which she lived and worked in the Southern African country of Lesotho
Lesotho
Lesotho , officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country and enclave, surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. It is just over in size with a population of approximately 2,067,000. Its capital and largest city is Maseru. Lesotho is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The name...
. Newman received the "Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service" in 1985. She worked as the Cooperative Housing Foundation consultant on a World Bank project in Lesotho to merge existing housing corporations into one that was structured to receive World Bank funding from 1987 to 1988. She then served as the Director of the United States Office of Personnel Management from 1989 to 1992. Newman received the "Central State University" award in 1991. She began a serious undertaking of re-inventing of the OPM, involving unions, the personnel community, managers' associations in strategic planning for federal human resources management. Also, she focused on civil servants' role in delivering critical public services. As Under Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution from 1992 to 2000, she received the Joseph Henry Medal in 2000, the Smithsonian's highest award for recognition of her distinguished service, achievements and contributions to the prestige and growth of the Smithsonian Institution. At around the same time, from 1994 to 2000 as a Board Member and Vice Chair of the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority, and from 1998 to 2001 as a Board Member of the International Republican Institute. She won the "Washingtonian of the Year" award in 1998.
2000s
Newman served as the Assistant Administrator for Africa of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) from November 2001 to June 2004. USAID is the government agency that administers economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide. On June 24, 2004 President George W. BushGeorge W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
appointed her U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs. She had a central role in several aspects of U.S. Africa policy. She helped determine that "genocide has been committed" in Sudan's Darfur region for Colin Powell
Colin Powell
Colin Luther Powell is an American statesman and a retired four-star general in the United States Army. He was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African American to serve in that position. During his military...
's speech in September 2004.
She resigned in April 2005 and Jendayi Frazer
Jendayi Frazer
Jendayi Elizabeth Frazer is the former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, heading the Bureau of African Affairs. She currently serves as a Distinguished Service Professor at Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College and Department of Social and Decision...
replaced her. She is a member of the board of directors of the International Republican Institute
International Republican Institute
Founded in 1983, the International Republican Institute is an organization, funded by the United States government, that conducts international political programs, sometimes labeled 'democratization programs'....
.
External links
- The History Makers Biography - Constance Berry Newman
- Department of State Biography
- Department of State Biography USAID
- Grave Humanitarian Crisis Worsening In Eastern Congo, Where 3.5m Have Already Perished Jill Sudhoff-Guerin allAfrica July 23, 2004
- "The Democratic Republic of the Congo Peace Accords: One Year Later" House Committee on International Relations Subcommittee on Africa July 22, 2004
- "Saving the Congo Basin: The Stakes, The Plan" Before the House Committee on International Relations Subcommittee on Africa March 11, 2003
- A Few Good Women... Constance Berry Newman