Dr. Dalia Grybauskaitė, Former President of Lithuania
Content created by Virtual Intern Lily Jiang
During her career Dr. Grybauskaitė held a number of positions throughout the Lithuanian government. She represented Lithuania as it entered European Union free trade agreements and was a logical choice for an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) project in 1994 that focused on U.S. trade perspectives. Dr. Grybauskaitė joined twelve other European leaders as they met with key U.S. policymakers and advocacy organizations to discuss trade issues and become better acquainted with the American entrepreneurial spirit.
Dr. Grybauskaitė has earned numerous prestigious awards for her contributions to Lithuania’s integration into the European Union. She received the CERES medal, the Medal of the Baltic Assembly, and the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen. In November 2005, she was elected EU Commissioner of the Year for her efforts to reform the European Union. In 2013, Dr. Grybauskaitė was awarded the Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa, at Georgetown University. The honorary doctorate was conferred to her for political leadership, truth, transparency, and responsibility.
Dr. Dalia Grybauskaitė has been a life-long advocate for global policies, a supporter of women’s rights, and for worldwide gender equality. She serves as a role model to young Lithuanians for her efforts to advocate for European unity and her efforts to build a strong and independent country.
Content edited by Sallie Bestul, Regina Navarro-Gomez, and Jenna Williams
