WASHINGTON, D.C. – Dr. Karen Hilliard was sworn in today as the new Mission Director for Armenia for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).  Deputy Administrator Donald Steinberg administered the oath of office.

As Director of the Mission, Dr. Hilliard will have the primary responsibility for overseeing programs that aim to increase development, strengthen democratic institutions, governance, and civil society, and improve the quality of health and social services.

A 24-year veteran of the Foreign Service, Dr. Hilliard holds the rank of Counselor. From January through June 2012, she served as Acting USAID Representative to Mongolia and, from 2007-2011, as Mission Director to Jamaica. She also served as Director of the Office of Strategic Planning and Budgeting for the Agency’s Bureau for Global Health in Washington from 2006-2007, and Deputy Regional Director for Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus from 2003-2006.  In addition, she served at posts in Haiti, Malawi, Nicaragua, Oman and Egypt.

Prior to joining the Foreign Service, Dr. Hilliard was Assistant Professor of Public Administration at Florida State University.  She has published numerous articles on public administration and international development. 

Dr. Hilliard holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Illinois University as well as Master’s degrees in Public Administration and Latin American Studies and a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of New Mexico.  She is a former Fulbright Scholar.