Early Life and Education

Samantha Jane Power was born on September 21, 1970, in Castleknock, Ireland. She immigrated to the United States with her mother at the age of nine. Power earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University, followed by a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School. She began her professional career as a journalist, reporting from conflict zones including Bosnia, East Timor, Kosovo, Rwanda, Sudan, and Zimbabwe.

Before entering public service, Power was the founding executive director of the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at Harvard Kennedy School. Her writings appeared in prominent publications such as TIME, The Atlantic, The New Yorker, and The New York Review of Books. She received a National Magazine Award for her reporting.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations

From 2013 to 2017, Power served as the 28th United States Ambassador to the United Nations and was a member of President Barack Obama’s cabinet. In this capacity, she played a leading role in shaping U.S. foreign policy, particularly in responding to Russian aggression in Ukraine and Syria. She was instrumental in implementing tough sanctions against North Korea, promoting the release of political prisoners, disrupting ISIL’s financial networks, and advancing U.S. human rights initiatives.

President Obama described her as one of the most effective thinkers on foreign policy, recognizing her contributions to conflict resolution and the defense of human dignity on a global scale.

National Security Council and Human Rights Advocacy

Prior to her ambassadorship, from 2009 to 2013, Power served on the National Security Council as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights. In that role, she worked on issues including genocide prevention, United Nations reform, religious freedom, LGBT and women's rights, and the fight against human trafficking.

Her efforts positioned her as a prominent advocate for human rights and multilateral diplomacy. Power’s policy work emphasized both international cooperation and moral responsibility in global governance.

The Education of an Idealist

In 2019, Power published her memoir, The Education of an Idealist, which offers insights into her early experiences, her work in the Obama administration, and her evolving perspective on diplomacy. The book also details her decision-making process during critical international events, including a controversial decision not to support Russia’s re-election to the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Recognition and Influence

Power has been widely recognized for her influence on U.S. international policy. She was named one of TIME magazine's "100 Most Influential People" and was featured among Foreign Policy’s "Top 100 Global Thinkers." Forbes referred to her as a powerful advocate for principled U.S. foreign policy.

Personal Life

Power resides in Concord, Massachusetts, with her husband, Cass Sunstein, a legal scholar and former White House official. The couple has two children.