Amanda Sloat joins IE University as Professor of Practice in International Relations

IE School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs is pleased to welcome Dr. Amanda Sloat, former Senior Director for Europe at the U.S. National Security Council and Special Assistant to President Biden (2021–2023), as Professor of Practice in International Relations. With extensive experience in transatlantic diplomacy, policymaking, and academia, Dr. Sloat will play a pivotal role in strengthening IE University’s leadership in global affairs education.

As a distinguished faculty member, Dr. Sloat will bridge the gap between theory and practice, engaging with undergraduate and master’s students to develop their expertise in foreign policy, transatlantic relations, and international governance. She will also lead IE University’s Transatlantic Relations in a Changing World Program, housed within the Global Policy Center, IE’s platform for policy dialogue and applied research. In this capacity, she will oversee the annual Transatlantic Bridge Conference, organized in collaboration with Johns Hopkins SAIS, Yale’s Jackson School of Global Affairs, and Sciences Po Paris (PSIA). The next edition of the conference will be held at IE University’s Segovia campus from May 30 to June 1, 2025. Additionally, Dr. Sloat will contribute to the IE Health and Well-being Center, conducting research on public service and well-being.

"It is a true privilege to welcome Amanda to the IE community," said Manuel Muñiz, Provost of IE University. "Her work as a policymaker and scholar has been instrumental in shaping the US-Europe relationship—one of the most enduring and consequential alliances in global politics. Her arrival at IE University will further elevate our work on transatlantic relations and Europe’s role in the world, offering our students and faculty an invaluable source of knowledge, experience, and insight."

Prior to serving in the Biden Administration, Dr. Sloat was Deputy Assistant Secretary for Southern Europe and Eastern Mediterranean Affairs at the U.S. State Department (2013–2016) and Senior Professional Staff Member at the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee (2007–2010). Beyond her government service, she has held academic and research roles at the Brookings Institution, Harvard Kennedy School, and Queen’s University Belfast. She earned a Ph.D. in Politics from the University of Edinburgh and a B.A. in Political Theory from James Madison College at Michigan State University. Dr. Sloat is the author of Scotland in Europe: A Study of Multi-Level Governance (Peter Lang, 2002) and has published extensively on European politics and transatlantic relations in both academic and media outlets.

Enrico Letta, Dean of IE School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs, concluded: "With this appointment, IE University and the School further strengthens its role as a global hub for international relations and diplomacy, deepening its engagement with leading policymakers and scholars."