Clay Constantinou
Encyclopedia
Clay Constantinou is an American
lawyer
and diplomat
. He served as US Ambassador to Luxembourg
from 1994 to 1999 and as Dean of the Whitehead School of Diplomacy at Seton Hall University
from 1999 to 2005. He is currently of counsel at Patton Boggs
.
in political science
from New Jersey City University
, a J.D.
from Seton Hall University School of Law
and an L.L.M. from the New York University School of Law
. He practiced law and became a partner in the New Jersey
law firm, Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer.
Also active in politics, Constantinou first raised money as part of the Tsongas campaign in 1991 but was recruited and later led the Bill Clinton
Presidential finance committee/campaign in New Jersey and served as president of the New Jersey State Electoral College, one of 15 electors casting their votes for the Clinton/Gore ticket. In 1989, Governor James Florio
appointed him Commissioner of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority
. Constantinou also served as a member of the Board of Directors of Essex County
Utility Authority and of Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Jersey
.
to Luxembourg
. During his tenure, decisions were reached in Luxembourg including NATO expansion, European Union
enlargement and Economic and Monetary Union. In the course of the 1997 Luxembourg European Union presidency, he led American delegations and participated in negotiations with EU officials on trade and global-cooperation issues. Ambassador Constantinou has also advised the Clinton Administration on Cyprus
and Eastern Mediterranean issues.
theme, Dialogue among Civilizations. The year-long effort produced a report, published by the School, entitled Crossing the Divide and was presented by United Nations Secretary-General
Kofi Annan
to the General Assembly. After two three-year terms as Dean, Constantinou returned to private practice.
Distinguished Alumnus and in 1997 Seton Hall University School of Law
named him "Distinguished Graduate of the Year". In 1999, New Jersey City University
conferred Constantinou a Doctor of Letters honoris causa.
In 1999, Cyprus
President Glafcos Clerides awarded Constantinou the Republic's highest distinction, the Medal for Exceptional Services. In the same year Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos bestowed upon him the Medal of Saint Barnabas the Apostle. Constantinou is also the recipient of other honors and awards including the Cyprus Federation of America, Annual Testimonial Award and the American Hellenic Institute, National Public Service Award.
In 1996 he earned a certificate at Harvard University
's, Kennedy School of Government, for his participation in the Senior Managers in Government program.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
. He served as US Ambassador to Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
from 1994 to 1999 and as Dean of the Whitehead School of Diplomacy at Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University is a private Roman Catholic university in South Orange, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1856 by Archbishop James Roosevelt Bayley, Seton Hall is the oldest diocesan university in the United States. Seton Hall is also the oldest and largest Catholic university in the...
from 1999 to 2005. He is currently of counsel at Patton Boggs
Patton Boggs
Patton Boggs is a full service law firm and lobbyist headquartered in Washington, D.C. It has more than 600 lawyers and professionals in nine locations in the United States and the Middle East. Patton Boggs specializes in , , , , international and trade law with over 200 international clients from...
.
Early life
Constantinou earned a B.A.Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
from New Jersey City University
New Jersey City University
New Jersey City University is a public university in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA. It is a member of the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities....
, a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Seton Hall University School of Law
Seton Hall University School of Law
The Seton Hall University School of Law is part of Seton Hall University, and is located in downtown Newark, New Jersey. Seton Hall Law School is the only private law school in New Jersey, and is the top-ranked of the three law schools in the state...
and an L.L.M. from the New York University School of Law
New York University School of Law
The New York University School of Law is the law school of New York University. Established in 1835, the school offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in law, and is located in Greenwich Village, in the New York City borough of Manhattan....
. He practiced law and became a partner in the New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
law firm, Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer.
Also active in politics, Constantinou first raised money as part of the Tsongas campaign in 1991 but was recruited and later led the Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
Presidential finance committee/campaign in New Jersey and served as president of the New Jersey State Electoral College, one of 15 electors casting their votes for the Clinton/Gore ticket. In 1989, Governor James Florio
James Florio
James Joseph "Jim" Florio is a Democratic politician who served as the 49th Governor of New Jersey from 1990 to 1994, the first Italian American to hold the position...
appointed him Commissioner of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority
New Jersey Turnpike Authority
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority is a state agency responsible for maintaining the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway...
. Constantinou also served as a member of the Board of Directors of Essex County
Essex County, New Jersey
Essex County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the United States 2010 Census, the population was 783,969, ranking it third in the state after Bergen County and Middlesex County; Essex County's population has declined from 786,147 as of the bureau's...
Utility Authority and of Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Jersey
Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Jersey
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, headquartered in Newark, New Jersey is the only licensed Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association plan in New Jersey, providing health insurance coverage to over 3.2 million people throughout all of North, Central, and South Jersey.It is a not-for-profit,...
.
Ambassadorship
In 1994, Constantinou was appointed the United States AmbassadorAmbassadors from the United States
This is a list of ambassadors of the United States to individual nations of the world, to international organizations, to past nations, and ambassadors-at-large.Ambassadors are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate...
to Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
. During his tenure, decisions were reached in Luxembourg including NATO expansion, European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
enlargement and Economic and Monetary Union. In the course of the 1997 Luxembourg European Union presidency, he led American delegations and participated in negotiations with EU officials on trade and global-cooperation issues. Ambassador Constantinou has also advised the Clinton Administration on Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
and Eastern Mediterranean issues.
Deanship
In 1999, Constantinou was selected as the first permanent Dean of the Whitehead School of Diplomacy. In 2000 the School of Diplomacy was selected to serve as secretariat and project manager for the 2001 United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
theme, Dialogue among Civilizations. The year-long effort produced a report, published by the School, entitled Crossing the Divide and was presented by United Nations Secretary-General
United Nations Secretary-General
The Secretary-General of the United Nations is the head of the Secretariat of the United Nations, one of the principal organs of the United Nations. The Secretary-General also acts as the de facto spokesperson and leader of the United Nations....
Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
to the General Assembly. After two three-year terms as Dean, Constantinou returned to private practice.
Honors
In 1991 he was named New Jersey City UniversityNew Jersey City University
New Jersey City University is a public university in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA. It is a member of the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities....
Distinguished Alumnus and in 1997 Seton Hall University School of Law
Seton Hall University School of Law
The Seton Hall University School of Law is part of Seton Hall University, and is located in downtown Newark, New Jersey. Seton Hall Law School is the only private law school in New Jersey, and is the top-ranked of the three law schools in the state...
named him "Distinguished Graduate of the Year". In 1999, New Jersey City University
New Jersey City University
New Jersey City University is a public university in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA. It is a member of the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities....
conferred Constantinou a Doctor of Letters honoris causa.
In 1999, Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
President Glafcos Clerides awarded Constantinou the Republic's highest distinction, the Medal for Exceptional Services. In the same year Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos bestowed upon him the Medal of Saint Barnabas the Apostle. Constantinou is also the recipient of other honors and awards including the Cyprus Federation of America, Annual Testimonial Award and the American Hellenic Institute, National Public Service Award.
In 1996 he earned a certificate at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
's, Kennedy School of Government, for his participation in the Senior Managers in Government program.