Phyllis E. Oakley

John Hopkins' School of Advanced International Studies

Phyllis E. Oakley is adjunct professor at John Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies and is on the Advisory Board for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University. She also became a familiar TV presence as the first woman to serve as spokesperson for the State Department. Ms. Oakley also served as Afghan Desk Officer at State and in Pakistan on the Afghanistan Cross-Border Humanitarian Assistance Program. She was the lead Department of State official for refugees during the genocide in Rwanda in 1994.

Ms. Oakley is a commanding speaker on humanitarian as well as security issues. She gives critical analyses of dilemmas faced when responding to humanitarian emergencies, but in the final analysis advocates strongly for the option that harms the fewest refugees. Ms. Oakley is a graduate of Northwestern University and has a Masters’ Degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.