Mathea Falco
Encyclopedia
Mathea Falco is a leading expert in drug abuse prevention and treatment who served as the first U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
during the Carter Administration. Currently, Falco is the President of Drug Strategies, a nonprofit research institute based in Washington, D.C.
, which she created with the support of major foundations in 1993 to identify and promote more effective approaches to substance abuse and international drug policy.
Falco received her B.A. from Radcliffe College
in 1965 and her J.D. from Yale Law School
in 1968. In 1971, Falco became the first woman to serve as Chief Counsel and Staff Director of a major U.S. Senate subcommittee (United States Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency) which had jurisdiction over the Federal laws governing juvenile delinquency, controlled substances, pornography and gun control. In 1977, Secretary of State Cyrus Vance
appointed Falco Senior Adviser to the Secretary of State for International Narcotics Matters.
In 1979, President Jimmy Carter
nominated Falco to the newly created position of Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics Matters (currently known as the Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs) a post she held until January 21, 1981. During her four years at the State Department, Falco also led the U.S. delegation to the annual meetings of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs.
After leaving government in 1981, Falco continued her work in drug policy, serving as a consultant to the Carnegie Corporation of New York
, the Ford Foundation
's U.S.-Mexico Commission, the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation
, and other non-profit organizations. In 1985, Falco was elected to the Harvard Board of Overseers
for a six-year term. From 1993-1994, Falco served as a Senior Associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
.
Falco is currently a Visiting Scholar at the Center for International Criminal Justice at the Harvard Law School
as well as an Associate Professor at the Weill Cornell Medical College Department of Public Health in New York. From 2005-2007, Ms. Falco was a Fellow at Harvard University’s Weatherhead Center for International Affairs. In addition to numerous articles and book chapters, Falco is the author of The Making of a Drug-Free America: Programs That Work. Falco comments frequently in the media on drug abuse research and policy, including NPR, HBO, ABC, NBC, and PBS's NewsHour
She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations
as well as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Center for Youth Law and the Treatment Research Institute at the University of Pennsylvania. Falco is also a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies Committee on Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management of Substance Use Disorders in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Falco co-hosted a "Working Group on Transnational Organized Crime" at Harvard Law School
in April 2011 which was attended by policy experts from the United States, Mexico, Colombia, and Spain, including a number of Mexican officials at the federal, state, and local levels.
Falco, who is married to Peter Tarnoff
, has one son, Benjamin F. Tarnoff.
Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs is a position of the United States government within the Department of State that heads the Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, which is responsible for development of policies and...
during the Carter Administration. Currently, Falco is the President of Drug Strategies, a nonprofit research institute based in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, which she created with the support of major foundations in 1993 to identify and promote more effective approaches to substance abuse and international drug policy.
Falco received her B.A. from Radcliffe College
Radcliffe College
Radcliffe College was a women's liberal arts college in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was the coordinate college for Harvard University. It was also one of the Seven Sisters colleges. Radcliffe College conferred joint Harvard-Radcliffe diplomas beginning in 1963 and a formal merger agreement with...
in 1965 and her J.D. from Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
in 1968. In 1971, Falco became the first woman to serve as Chief Counsel and Staff Director of a major U.S. Senate subcommittee (United States Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency) which had jurisdiction over the Federal laws governing juvenile delinquency, controlled substances, pornography and gun control. In 1977, Secretary of State Cyrus Vance
Cyrus Vance
Cyrus Roberts Vance was an American lawyer and United States Secretary of State under President Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1980...
appointed Falco Senior Adviser to the Secretary of State for International Narcotics Matters.
In 1979, President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
nominated Falco to the newly created position of Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics Matters (currently known as the Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs) a post she held until January 21, 1981. During her four years at the State Department, Falco also led the U.S. delegation to the annual meetings of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs.
After leaving government in 1981, Falco continued her work in drug policy, serving as a consultant to the Carnegie Corporation of New York
Carnegie Corporation of New York
Carnegie Corporation of New York, which was established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 "to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding," is one of the oldest, largest and most influential of American foundations...
, the Ford Foundation
Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation is a private foundation incorporated in Michigan and based in New York City created to fund programs that were chartered in 1936 by Edsel Ford and Henry Ford....
's U.S.-Mexico Commission, the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation
Edna McConnell Clark Foundation
The Edna McConnell Clark Foundation is a New York-based institution that currently focuses on providing opportunities for low-income youth in the United States...
, and other non-profit organizations. In 1985, Falco was elected to the Harvard Board of Overseers
Harvard Board of Overseers
The Harvard Board of Overseers is one of Harvard University's two governing boards...
for a six-year term. From 1993-1994, Falco served as a Senior Associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a foreign-policy think tank based in Washington, D.C. The organization describes itself as being dedicated to advancing cooperation between nations and promoting active international engagement by the United States...
.
Falco is currently a Visiting Scholar at the Center for International Criminal Justice at the Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
as well as an Associate Professor at the Weill Cornell Medical College Department of Public Health in New York. From 2005-2007, Ms. Falco was a Fellow at Harvard University’s Weatherhead Center for International Affairs. In addition to numerous articles and book chapters, Falco is the author of The Making of a Drug-Free America: Programs That Work. Falco comments frequently in the media on drug abuse research and policy, including NPR, HBO, ABC, NBC, and PBS's NewsHour
She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
as well as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Center for Youth Law and the Treatment Research Institute at the University of Pennsylvania. Falco is also a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies Committee on Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management of Substance Use Disorders in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Falco co-hosted a "Working Group on Transnational Organized Crime" at Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in April 2011 which was attended by policy experts from the United States, Mexico, Colombia, and Spain, including a number of Mexican officials at the federal, state, and local levels.
Falco, who is married to Peter Tarnoff
Peter Tarnoff
Peter Tarnoff served as the Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs during the first Clinton term, from 1993 to 1997...
, has one son, Benjamin F. Tarnoff.