Elizabeth Thornhill Joins QAIC Advisory Board

During a thirty-year career in the U.S. Foreign Service, Elizabeth Thornhill served as a public diplomacy officer in U.S. embassies throughout the Middle East and South Asia. Her positions in press and cultural affairs focused on developing the people-to-people relationships between Americans and the citizens of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Morocco, Egypt, and India. She continues to work on special projects for the U.S. Department of State.

“My tour as Public Affairs Officer in Doha, 1993-97, was particularly rewarding, coming at a time when Qatar was launching new initiatives in many sectors, including education, culture, and international media. My own children, Abigail and Sam, were enriched by living aboard and experiencing other cultures, and I believe it is essential that more Americans have opportunities to understand other countries. I applaud the work of QAIC.”

Elizabeth received her undergraduate degree in history from Auburn University, and master’s degrees from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill and National Defense University. She lives in Takoma Park, Maryland, with her husband, also a retired Foreign Service Officer. She is on the Board of Historic Takoma, the local preservation association, and a member of the Public Diplomacy Association of America.