Susan C. Schwab

Senior Fellow, School of Public Policy, University of Maryland; Former U.S. Trade Representative Scholars

Susan C. Schwab is professor at the University of Maryland, and a strategic advisor to the law firm Mayer Brown, LLP.

Ambassador Schwab served as United States Trade Representative (2006-09), and as Deputy USTR from 2005-06.  At USTR, she concluded free trade agreements with Peru, Colombia Panama and South Korea; launched the initial Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations and actively engaged in the (ultimately failed) WTO Doha Round.  She initiated and was able to resolve multiple trade disputes with China, Canada and others.

Previously, Schwab served as dean of the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland, and president and CEO of the University System of Maryland Foundation. In the private sector, she was director of corporate business development for Motorola, Inc., primarily involved in China and other Asia strategy. Earlier in government, Schwab was assistant secretary of commerce and director-general of the US & Foreign Commercial Service, legislative director for Senator John C. Danforth (R-MO), a trade policy officer at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, and an agricultural trade negotiator.

Schwab serves on the boards of Boeing, Caterpillar, FedEx, and Marriott. She is on the board of trustees of The Conference Board, on the board of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and is a member of the Aspen Strategy Group.She holds a B.A. from Williams College, a master’s from Stanford University, and a Ph.D. from The George Washington University.