John Shattuck

Former US Ambassador to Czech Republic and US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor
John Shattuck is a distinguished scholar, diplomat, and human rights leader with a career spanning more than four decades. He served as President and Rector of Central European University (CEU) from 2009 to 2016, where he advanced CEU’s global reputation for academic excellence, fostering open debate, and launching interdisciplinary programs, including the School of Public Policy and Roma Access Programs. During his tenure, CEU experienced significant growth in research funding, student applications, and campus redevelopment in Budapest.
Shattuck’s government service includes roles as U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor under President Clinton and U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic. He played a pivotal role in creating the International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda and Yugoslavia, negotiating the Dayton Peace Agreement, and advancing NATO integration.
Before CEU, Shattuck was CEO of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation and Vice President at Harvard University, where he championed public education and civil rights initiatives. His early career included leadership roles at the American Civil Liberties Union and significant contributions to privacy and civil rights law. A Yale Law School graduate, Shattuck has authored three books and numerous articles on human rights and public policy. He is currently a Professor of Practice at the Fletcher School and a Senior Fellow at Harvard.
Speaker Schedule
Saturday, February 1, 2025
at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government (HKS)Europe's Role in Global Diplomacy: Connecting the Balkans and Beyond Timčo Mucunski | John Shattuck | Albana Shehaj
Moderated by Ilva Tare
Pretense or Promise? Europe's Climate Ambition Mohammed Chahim | Carolyn Fischer | Todd Stern
Moderated by Carrie Jenks
A European Brand: Architecture, Hospitality, and Entertainment Alberto Candellero | Florian Idenburg | Demetri Tsolakis
Moderated by Octavia Marginean-Tahiroglu