Ambassador Wendy R. Sherman is a Principal of The Albright Group, an international advisory firm. Prior to forming the group, from July 1997 through January 2001, she was the Counselor of the Department of State (DOS), with rank of Ambassador, appointed by President Clinton and confirmed by the United States Senate. Ambassador Sherman served then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright as a special advisor and consultant on major issues of foreign policy, provided guidance to the DOS and undertook special assignments. At the same time, she was the Special Advisor to the President and Secretary of State, and the North Korea Policy Coordinator.

Ambassador Sherman has worked for over 25 years in both the public and private sectors; in national, state and local organizations; and in international arenas and neighborhoods. From April 1996 until July 1997, she was President and CEO of the Fannie Mae Foundation and a member of the operating committee of Fannie Mae. At the Foundation, she set in place the groundwork for the newly recreated foundation developed to promote home ownership.

From 1993 to 1996, Ambassador Sherman served Secretary of State Warren Christopher as Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs, where she directed the legislative efforts of the DOS with Congress. Among other issues, she led the successful efforts to obtain the funding for Russia and the Newly Independent States after the break-up of the Soviet Union and support for the Dayton accords.

From 1991 to 1993, she specialized in strategic communications as a partner in the political and media consulting firm of Doak, Shrum, Harris and Sherman. Prior to that, she directed EMILY’s List, the largest financial and political resource for pro-choice Democratic women candidates. She is credited with the organization’s strategic development that led to groundbreaking numbers of candidates in 1992.

Ambassador Sherman directed Campaign ’88 for the Democratic National Committee, where she oversaw field and political operations, communications, congressional relations, constituency operations, issue development and coordination with all federal, state and local campaigns during the 1988 general election.

Prior to that, Ambassador Sherman worked in a variety of positions in both government and nonprofit organizations: chief of staff for three years for then Congresswoman Barbara Mikulski, campaign manager for Mikulski’s first successful Senate campaign; Special Secretary for Children and Youth in Maryland (a cabinet-level position); and Director of Maryland’s Office of Child Welfare, supervising protective services, foster care, adoptions and group homes.

Ambassador Sherman attended Smith College from 1967 to 1969, and completed her Bachelor of Arts cum laude from Boston University in 1971. In 1976, she earned a master’s degree in social work, Phi Kappa Phi, from the University of Maryland."