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United States Colleen Graffy is a former U.S. diplomat and law professor who transitioned from academia to shaping public diplomacy strategies for the U.S. Department of State, later returning to her role as an educator and frequent international affairs commentator.
Graffy joined the CPD Advisory Board. She was noted for being the first diplomat to use Twitter and for introducing "Visual Diplomacy" as a tool for the U.S. government's public diplomacy.
Professor Graffy was recognized for being the first high-level US government official to actively advance "Public Diplomacy 2.0" using Twitter and other social media platforms.
Graffy's use of Twitter as Deputy Undersecretary of State for Public Affairs in December 2008 was highlighted in discussions about diplomacy and social media.
Her role as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Diplomacy was discussed in the context of reinvigorating America's strategic communications policy, focusing on the partnership component of messaging.
Graffy authored an article titled "How to Lose Friends, Citizens and Influence" concerning the U.S. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act.
Graffy's contributions to public diplomacy are cited in articles exploring intelligent innovation in the field, such as "Making Diplomacy Work: Intelligent Innovation for the Modern World."
Colleen Graffy maintains an active presence on Twitter, identifying herself as a Law Professor of International Law at Pepperdine University and a former diplomat in Public Diplomacy for the US State Dept.
Graffy appeared on BBC's Question Time with former foreign secretary David Miliband and Jerry Springer in the run-up to the US presidential elections.
Graffy published an op-ed highlighting evidence of war crimes in Syria.
Colleen Graffy was born in Santa Barbara, California. She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree at Pepperdine University and her Master of Arts degree at Boston University. She then served as co-director of Pepperdine’s Year-in-Europe program in Heidelberg, Germany. Following this, she relocated to the United Kingdom, where she resided for nearly 20 years. During her time in London, she pursued further legal education, obtaining a Diploma in Law, attending the Inns of Court School of Law, and earning an LLM (with Merit) from King’s College, University of London. She was called to the Bar of England and Wales as a Barrister of the Middle Temple, where she also serves as a Bencher. She held the position of Academic Director and Associate Professor of Law at the London Law Program for Pepperdine University School of Law, overseeing the London Moot and Clinical Program and teaching International Public Law, International Environmental Law, International Law and the Use of Force, and Legal Ethics.
In September 2005, Ms. Graffy assumed duties as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. In this role, she oversaw public diplomacy and public affairs programs for the Bureau and coordinated efforts with the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. She was the first diplomat to utilize Twitter and actively promoted “Public Diplomacy 2.0” through various social media platforms. Ms. Graffy introduced “Visual Diplomacy” and “Green Diplomacy” as tools for U.S. government public diplomacy efforts. She also initiated the Ben Franklin Transatlantic Fellowship and established the first U.S. government “media hub,” featuring radio and television broadcasting facilities in Brussels, Belgium. Her tenure included addressing controversial topics such as those related to Guantanamo.
After her diplomatic service, Ms. Graffy returned to academia, continuing her role as a law professor specializing in international law at Pepperdine Caruso Law School in Malibu, California. She also took on the position of Director of Global Programs at Pepperdine University School of Law. She has authored articles on legal topics in both the United States and Britain and continues to contribute as a frequent commentator on transatlantic political, legal, and cultural issues for various media outlets.
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