Diplomat, Cultural Strategist & Art Historian; Former U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands; Distinguished Professor at Georgetown University

Washington, DC, USA
Live Event: $5,000 - $10,000 Virtual Event: $5,000 - $10,000 More Fee Info

Cynthia P. Schneider Biography

Cynthia P. Schneider is an American diplomat, scholar, and cultural strategist whose career spans art history, international relations, and public diplomacy. Schneider studied fine arts at Harvard University, earning both her bachelor's degree and doctorate, and began her professional career as an assistant curator of European paintings at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. She later joined Georgetown University as associate professor of art history. During her academic tenure, Schneider published several books and numerous articles on Rembrandt and Dutch art of the seventeenth century, including "Rembrandt's Landscapes." In addition to her academic work, she was appointed vice-chair of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities.

Schneider served as the 61st ambassador of the United States to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Her portfolio included public and cultural diplomacy, biotechnology, cybersecurity, military affairs, education, international justice, and environmental initiatives. She was the first American invited to deliver the keynote address at the annual Dutch commemoration of liberation from the Nazis and the first non-Dutch speaker to present the annual William of Orange lecture. Schneider hosted the U.S. delegation to the COP-6 Climate Change Conference in The Hague, managed U.S. cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, and served as the top U.S. official in the Netherlands during the Lockerbie trial. Following her ambassadorship, she received the Exceptional Public Service Award from the U.S. Department of Defense in recognition of her support for the U.S. military.

After returning from her diplomatic post, Schneider became a distinguished professor in the practice of diplomacy at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, where she has taught courses, published research, and delivered public lectures on cultural diplomacy. She also became a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, coordinating the Arts and Culture Initiative and helping to launch the Timbuktu Renaissance, a Mali-based platform focused on countering extremism and promoting peace and development through culture. Schneider is co-founder and co-director of Muslims on Screen and Television (MOST), an initiative providing Hollywood screenwriters with accurate information about Muslims and the Muslim world.

Schneider also co-founded the Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics, a joint initiative between Georgetown's School of Foreign Service and College of Arts and Sciences, with the mission of humanizing global politics through performance. She teaches, publishes, and speaks about the role of culture in diplomacy and international affairs, applying these concepts in diverse settings from conflict zones to Hollywood writers' rooms. Her writings include articles for Los Angeles Times, CNN.com, TIME, and Foreign Policy, as well as policy papers for Brookings Institution. Schneider has spoken at TED, TEDx, universities, conferences, and festivals worldwide. Her book in progress, "Why Culture Matters: Re-Imagining Diplomacy," is set to be published by Georgetown University Press.

BOOK Cynthia P. Schneider

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 06/01/2026.

Cynthia P. Schneider Videos

Cynthia Schneider - The Surprising Spread of Idol TV - TED Talk

Cynthia Schneider - The Surprising Spread of Idol TV - TED Talk

http://www.ted.com Cynthia Schneider looks at two international "American Idol"-style shows -- one in Afghanistan, and one in the United Arab...

Water Futures - 12 The global challenge – Panel hosted by Cynthia ...

Water Futures - 12 The global challenge – Panel hosted by Cynthia ...

Cynthia Schneider | TEDxMidAtlantic

Cynthia Schneider | TEDxMidAtlantic

  • How do I book Cynthia P. Schneider to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Cynthia P. Schneider for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Cynthia P. Schneider, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Cynthia P. Schneider or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Cynthia P. Schneider

    Speaking fees for Cynthia P. Schneider, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Cynthia P. Schneider are under $10,000 for live events and under $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Cynthia P. Schneider, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Cynthia P. Schneider speak about?

    Cynthia P. Schneider is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Art & Design, Culture, Environment, Geopolitics, Government, Influential Women, Innovation, Political, Professors, World Affairs
  • Where does Cynthia P. Schneider travel from?

    Cynthia P. Schneider generally travels from Washington, DC, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Cynthia P. Schneider’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Cynthia P. Schneider for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Cynthia P. Schneider for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Cynthia P. Schneider or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Cynthia P. Schneider is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Cynthia P. Schneider for your event is available upon request. Cynthia P. Schneider generally travels from Washington, DC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Alaa Murabit, Robin Wright, Dambisa Moyo, Haiyan Wang and Jody Williams. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Cynthia P. Schneider for an upcoming live or virtual event.

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.
Please Select Event Budget
Please enter your message
Please Enter Your Name
Please Enter Your Email
  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

TOP