{{Short description|American diplomat}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Cynthia Stroum | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1950}} | office = United States Ambassador to Luxembourg | term_start = December 7, 2009 | term_end = January 31, 2011 | birth_place = Seattle, Washington, U.S. | alma_mater = University of Southern California (BA) | predecessor = Ann Wagner | successor = Robert A. Mandell | president = Barack Obama | image = Ambassador Cynthia Stroum 101111-F-1239W-167.jpg }}
'''Cynthia Stroum''' (born 1950)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/stroum-cynthia |title=Cynthia Stroum - People - Department History - Office of the Historian |website=history.state.gov |access-date=2019-09-10}}</ref> is an American diplomat and political donor who served as the United States Ambassador to Luxembourg from December 7, 2009 to January 31, 2011.<ref>[http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/cynthia_stroum_luxembourg_ambassador_demoralized_embassy_had_staff_house_hunt_splurged_on_mattress.php?ref=fpb talkingpointsmemo.com, February 4, 2011]</ref><ref>[https://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/135231.htm U.S. State Department biography page] [https://web.archive.org/web/20110103122811/http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/135231.htm archived version]</ref>
==Background and education==
Stroum was born to a wealthy, well-known philanthropic Jewish family in Seattle.<ref>[https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20010311/stroum11m/patron-samuel-stroum-known-to-many-as-godfather-of-giving-dies-at-79 Seattle Times, March 11, 2001]</ref> She received a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and Journalism from the University of Southern California, and worked in the TV and film industries.<ref>[https://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/135231.htm U.S. State Department biography page] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110103122811/http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/135231.htm |date=January 3, 2011 }}</ref> She was a major donor to Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray from her home state of Washington, and to the Barack Obama 2008 presidential campaign.<ref>[http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/cynthia_stroum_luxembourg_ambassador_demoralized_embassy_had_staff_house_hunt_splurged_on_mattress.php?ref=fpb talkingpointsmemo.com, February 4, 2011]</ref><ref>[http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/178998.asp SeattlePI.com, September 12, 2009]</ref>
==Management of Embassy Luxembourg controversy==
Inspectors from the State Department Inspector General's office visited the Embassy of the United States, Luxembourg in October and November 2010. According to their report, released two weeks after Stroum announced her resignation, her "confrontational management style, chronic gaps in senior and other staffing caused by curtailments, and the absence of a sense of direction have brought major elements of Embassy Luxembourg to a state of dysfunction."<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://oig.state.gov/system/files/156129.pdf |title=Report of Inspection, Embassy Luxembourg, Report Number ISP-I-11-17A, January 2011 |access-date=2015-07-19 |archive-date=2016-03-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308121737/https://oig.state.gov/system/files/156129.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> The report also criticized Stroum for spending excessive time supervising the repair of the ambassador's residence and for obtaining an improper reimbursement for the purchase of a mattress.<ref>[http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/cynthia_stroum_luxembourg_ambassador_demoralized_embassy_had_staff_house_hunt_splurged_on_mattress.php?ref=fpb talkingpointsmemo.com, February 4, 2011]</ref> In addition, there were apparently large unwarranted purchases made for wine and liqueur according to an article in ''The Washington Post'' on February 4, 2011.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20151224002734/http://luxembourg.usembassy.gov/ US Embassy in Luxembourg]
{{s-start}} {{s-dip}} {{succession box | title = United States Ambassador to Luxembourg | before = Ann Wagner | after = Robert A. Mandell | years = 2009–2011 }} {{s-end}} {{US Ambassadors to Luxembourg}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stroum, Cynthia}} Category:1950 births Category:Living people Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Luxembourg Category:People from Seattle Category:USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism alumni Category:Women ambassadors of the United States Category:21st-century American diplomats Category:21st-century American women Category:Patty Murray