Marcella Szymanski

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT MARCELLA SZYMANSKI

Dr. Szymanski is the Deputy Director for the Agricultural Policy Office in the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs (EB) at the U.S. Department of State. Dr. Szymanski works on trade policy, food security, and development issues related to agricultural biotechnology with a regional focus on the South and Central America. EB formulates and carries out U.S. foreign economic policy, integrating U.S. economic interests with our foreign policy goals. EB implements American economic policy in cooperation with U.S. companies, U.S. Government agencies, and other organizations. The bureau negotiates agreements with foreign governments and advances U.S. positions in such international organizations as the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the World Trade Organization. Dr. Szymanski is responsible for developing and implementing U.S. trade policy related to new agricultural technologies and working with foreign governments to address regulatory barriers to U.S. agricultural exports. She also works closely with officials from developing countries to support the development of biosafety legislation and facilitate technology transfer to increase agricultural productivity. Prior to joining the State Department, Dr. Szymanski taught and worked in agricultural extension with the University of Kentucky. Her education includes a doctorate in Natural Resource Economics, a Masters degree in Forest Genetics, as well as a Bachelors degree in forestry. Previously, Marcella received a fellowship to the U.S. Department of State where she served as a desk officer advising on science and technology issues for Pakistan. She has worked both as a bench scientist and with rural farmers in the United States and abroad as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Maragoli, Kenya. Specialties: Forestry, Agricultural biotechnology, Food Security, Rural Development, Trade issues