Kunin, Madeleine, 1933-

<p>Languages<br>
Fluent in German and French.</p>

<p>Madeleine May Kunin (born September 28, 1933) is a Swiss-born American diplomat, author and politician. She served as the 77th Governor of Vermont from 1985 until 1991, as a member of the Democratic Party. She also served as United States Ambassador to Switzerland from 1996 to 1999. She was Vermont's first and, to date, only female governor as well as the first Jewish governor of Vermont. She was also the first Jewish woman to be elected governor of a U.S. state. Kunin is currently a James Marsh Professor-at-Large at the University of Vermont.</p>

<p>Kunin was born in Zürich, Switzerland, the daughter of Renee (Bloch) and Ferdinand May. Her family were German Jews escaped to Switzerland after the Nazi rise. Kunin's father, Ferdinand May, suffered depression and committed suicide in a lake near Zurich. She moved to the United States as a child. She received her bachelor's degree in history from the University of Massachusetts Amherst (1956), a master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, and a master's degree in English from the University of Vermont. Prior to seeking elective office, she worked as a journalist for The Burlington Free Press, as a tour guide at the World's Fair, and as a part-time college professor. She was also involved in community activities, particularly in the area of women's rights, children, and literature. In 2012 her book, <i>The New Feminist Agenda: Defining the Next Revolution for Women, Work, and Family</i>, was published by Chelsea Green Publishing.</p>

MADELEINE M. KUNIN was born in Zurich, Switzerland. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts in 1956 and received a master’s degree from Columbia University in 1957. She earned another master’s degree from the University of Vermont, and worked as a journalist, author, and college professor. She was first elected to the Vermont House of Representatives in 1972, and was selected Democratic Whip in her second term. In her third term, she chaired the Appropriations Committee. She was elected lieutenant governor in 1978 and won reelection in 1980. During the spring of 1983, she taught at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Governor Kunin also taught at Middlebury College and St. Michael’s College. She was elected the first woman governor of Vermont in 1984. During her tenure, she focused on education and the environment and chaired the New England Governors’ Association. She founded the Institute for Sustainable Communities and served as its first board chair from 1991 to 1993. During the presidential administration of Bill Clinton, she served as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. From 1996 to 1999, she was U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland. Kunin went on to become a Distinguishing Visiting Professor at the University of Vermont and St. Michael’s College.