Susan R. Crystal
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Professional and Cultural Exchanges
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
United States Department of State

Susan Crystal is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Professional and Cultural Exchanges in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). She joined the Bureau in August 2018 and is responsible for overseeing a broad array of professional, youth, cultural and sports exchange programs for U.S. and foreign audiences, supported by the Office of International Visitors and the Office of Citizen Exchanges. She places a strong focus on mentoring, diversity and inclusion, and leadership coaching.
A career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Minister Counselor, she served previously in the Bureau of Human Resources in the Office of Career Development and Assignments where she and her team were responsible for advancing career development innovations for the 14,000 members of the Foreign Service in support of strategic goals to develop and sustain an agile and diverse workforce. She also supported Strategic Communications for the Director General of the Foreign Service. Other Washington assignments include the Bureaus of Western Hemisphere Affairs and European Affairs, as well as a previous assignment in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
Overseas, Ms. Crystal held public diplomacy positions in Canada, Australia, Ecuador, Haiti, Mauritius and South Africa. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, she worked in constituent services for a Member of the United States Congress. Originally from Pittsburgh, she is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University and holds a professional certificate in Leadership Coaching from George Mason University. Her foreign languages are French and Spanish.
A career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Minister Counselor, she served previously in the Bureau of Human Resources in the Office of Career Development and Assignments where she and her team were responsible for advancing career development innovations for the 14,000 members of the Foreign Service in support of strategic goals to develop and sustain an agile and diverse workforce. She also supported Strategic Communications for the Director General of the Foreign Service. Other Washington assignments include the Bureaus of Western Hemisphere Affairs and European Affairs, as well as a previous assignment in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
Overseas, Ms. Crystal held public diplomacy positions in Canada, Australia, Ecuador, Haiti, Mauritius and South Africa. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, she worked in constituent services for a Member of the United States Congress. Originally from Pittsburgh, she is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University and holds a professional certificate in Leadership Coaching from George Mason University. Her foreign languages are French and Spanish.
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