Donna J. Hrinak

Donna J. Hrinak, "a graduate of MSU, served as U.S. ambassador in the Dominican Republic (1994-98), Bolivia (1998-2000), Venezuela (2000-02) and Brazil (2002-04).

"Her foreign service career also included assignments in Colombia, Honduras, Mexico and Poland. In Washington, she served as deputy assistant secretary of state for Mexico and the Caribbean (1991-94).

"Through a fellowship from the American Political Science Association, Hrinak worked in the office of U.S. Rep. Patricia Schroeder, focusing on immigration and economic equity issues. In that capacity she served as liaison to the Congressional Caucus on Women’s Issues.

"In April 2006, she joined Kraft Foods Inc. where she is director of corporate and government affairs in Kraft’s Latin American headquarters in Miami. She came to Kraft from the international advisory firm of Kissinger McLarty Associates, Washington, D.C., where she was senior director. Prior to that position, she served as co-chairperson of the International Trade & Competition practice group at the law firm of Steel, Hector & Davis in Miami.

"The recipient of an MSU Distinguished Alumni Award, Hrinak maintained her ties to MSU during her overseas service. As ambassador to the Dominican Republic, she hosted a group of MSU students working on a social project in a Dominican community and worked closely with the Michigan-Dominican Partners of the Americas. In Bolivia, she counseled an MSU research and outreach delegation on their contacts with Bolivian public officials.

"In addition to her many public service awards, she was named 2005 Businesswoman of the Year by the Miami chapter of Women in International Trade. In 1985, she was named by Glamour magazine as one of America’s Ten Outstanding Young Working Women.

"Hrinak also attended The George Washington University and the University of Notre Dame School of Law." [1]

• Director, Council on Foreign Relations
• Director, Inter-American Dialogue
• Director, Partners of the Americas
• Advisory Board, Brazil Foundation
• Member, Council on Foreign Relations Task Force on Latin America