Azita Raji

Azita Raji
United States Ambassador to Sweden
In office
March 8, 2016 – January 20, 2017
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byMark Brzezinski
Succeeded byKen Howery
Personal details
Born(1961-09-29)September 29, 1961
Tehran, Iran
DiedFebruary 8, 2022(2022-02-08) (aged 60)
Belvedere, California, U.S.
Spouse(s)Gary Syman
Children5
Alma materColumbia University

Azita Raji (Persian: آزیتا راجی, September 29, 1961 – February 8, 2022) was an Iranian-born American politician, banker, and philanthropist. She was nominated by President Barack Obama in October 2014 to serve as the United States Ambassador to Sweden. She was confirmed by the United States Senate in February 2016. Her term ended on January 20, 2017.

In 2016, Raji read Bob Dylan's letter to the Nobel Committee on his behalf in Stockholm, in recognition of Dylan being awarded the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Raji died on February 8, 2022 in Belvedere, California from breast cancer at the age of 60.

References

  1. ↑ "Report for the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate" (PDF). The White House. February 2015.
  2. ↑ "President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts". whitehouse.gov. 23 October 2014 – via National Archives.
  3. ↑ "America's Empty Embassies". The New York Times. 29 December 2015.
  4. ↑ "For Norway, an Envoy; For Cruz, a Street Name". The New York Times. 12 February 2016.
  5. ↑ "Kerry Finally Fills Top Positions at State". ForeignPolicy.com. 17 February 2016.
  6. ↑ "The King holds a farewell audience with the USA's ambassador". U.S. Embassy in Sweden. 16 January 2017. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  7. ↑ "DN Debatt. "Inclusion, freedom, and democracy are non-negotiable values"". DN.debatt. 5 February 2017.
  8. ↑ "Bob Dylan Nobel Prize Speech". YouTube. 11 December 2016.
  9. ↑ "How Does It Feel, by Patti Smith". The New Yorker. 14 December 2016.
  10. ↑ "The Royal Family attend the Nobel Banquet". Swedish Royal Court. 10 December 2016. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  11. ↑ "Read Bob Dylan's Nobel Prize in Literature Banquet Speech". Rolling Stone. 10 December 2016. Archived from the original on 3 February 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  12. ↑ "Statement on the passing of former U.S. Ambassador to Sweden Azita Raji". U.S. Embassy in Sweden. 2022-02-08. Retrieved 2022-02-08.
  13. ↑ "A Role Model for All". Barnard.edu. Archived from the original on April 29, 2024. Retrieved April 29, 2024.