Clay Constantinou
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Ambassador Clay Constantinou served as the first permanent dean of the John C. Whitehead School of Diplomacy and International Relations at Seton Hall University from May 1999 through June 2005.
[edit] Career
In 2000 the School of Diplomacy was selected to serve as secretariat and project manager for the 2001 United Nations theme, Dialogue among Civilizations. The year-long effort produced a report, published by the School, entitled Crossing the Divide and was presented by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the General Assembly.
Prior to his appointment, he served as the United States Ambassador to Luxembourg from September 1994 to January 1999. During his tenure, decisions were reached in Luxembourg including NATO expansion, European Union enlargement and Economic and Monetary Union.
In the course of the 1997 Luxembourg European Union presidency, he led American delegations and participated in negotiations with EU officials on trade and global-cooperation issues. Ambassador Constantinou has also advised the Clinton Administration on Cyprus and Eastern Mediterranean issues.
Previously he was a partner in the New Jersey's law firm, Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer and was active in national politics. In 1991, he spearheaded the Clinton Presidential campaign in New Jersey and served as president of the New Jersey State Electoral College. In 1989, Governor James Florio appointed him Commissioner of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. Constantinou also served as a member of the Board of Directors of Essex County Utility Authority and of Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Jersey
In 1991 he was named New Jersey City University Distinguished Alumnus and in 1997 Seton Hall University School of Law named him "Distinguished Graduate of the Year". In 1999, New Jersey City University conferred Constantinou a Doctor of Letters honoris causa.
In 1999, Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides awarded Constantinou the Republic's highest distinction, the Medal for Exceptional Services. In the same year Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos bestowed upon him the Medal of Saint Barnabas the Apostle. Constantinou is also the recipient of other honors and awards including the Cyprus Federation of America, Annual Testimonial Award and the American Hellenic Institute, National Public Service Award.
Constantinou holds a B.A. in political science from New Jersey City University, a J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law and an L.L.M. from the New York University School of Law. In 1996 he earned a certificate at Harvard University's, Kennedy School of Government, for his participation in the Senior Managers in Government program.
| Preceded by: Edward Morgan Rowell |
United States Ambassador to Luxembourg 1994—1999 |
Succeeded by: James Catherwood Hormel |
| Preceded by: Terrence Blackburn - acting Dean |
Dean,
Seton Hall School of Diplomacy |
Succeeded by: Rev. Paul Holmes - interim Dean |
