Matthew Barzun
Encyclopedia
Matthew Winthrop Barzun was selected by President Barack Obama
as National Finance Chair for the Barack Obama presidential campaign, 2012
. He is an American
business executive who is known for his work with CNET Networks and for his volunteer work on Barack Obama
’s 2008 presidential campaign. He served as U.S. Ambassador to Sweden
from 2009 to 2011.
and received his A.B.
in history
and literature
magna cum laude from Harvard College
in 1993. In his testimony to the Senate during his confirmation vetting, Barzun noted that he had served as a summer intern to Massachusetts Senator John Kerry in 1989. Prior to his college education Matthew Barzun was a student at St. Paul’s School in New Hampshire
. After graduating from Harvard College, Barzun began working with CNET Networks.
In The Audacity to Win, author and political strategist David Plouffe
describes Matthew Barzun’s grassroots campaign idea as “citizen fundraisers” that drove Obama’s connection with supporters.
The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, chaired by Senator John Kerry, was expected to approve Barzun's nomination during the week of 3–7 August 2009, but it was unknown if the full Senate would vote on it before recessing on 7 August. The nomination was confirmed on August 7 and Barzun was sworn in on August 12.
on August 12, 2009, and presented his credentials to King Carl XVI Gustaf
on August 21, 2009. Barzun prioritized outreach and personal engagement, launching the U.S. Embassy Road Show that brings embassy personnel, resources, and exhibits out of Stockholm to smaller cities and towns. In partnership with the Swedish government, he also created the Swedish American Green Alliance where Swedes and Americans share news and ideas toward a clean energy future.
, and Lucretia Mott
, a proponent of women's rights. He is married (since 1999) to Brooke Brown Barzun
. They have three children, Jacques Barzun II, Eleanor Barzun, and Charles Barzun. Matthew Barzun’s grandfather is the renowned French-born American cultural historian and former Columbia University
professor, Jacques Martin Barzun. He is one of four children, his younger sister is film producer Lucy Barzun Donnelly
, Emmy and Golden Globe winner for her work producing Grey Gardens for HBO. His youngest brother, Charles Barzun, is a professor of law at the University of Virginia
.
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
as National Finance Chair for the Barack Obama presidential campaign, 2012
Barack Obama presidential campaign, 2012
On April 4, 2011, the President of the United States, Barack Obama, formally announced his re-election campaign for 2012. He is expected to be opposed by a candidate from the Republican Party and candidates from other parties, in an election scheduled for Tuesday, November 6, 2012.The campaign...
. He is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
business executive who is known for his work with CNET Networks and for his volunteer work on Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
’s 2008 presidential campaign. He served as U.S. Ambassador to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
from 2009 to 2011.
Education
Barzun grew up in Lincoln, MassachusettsLincoln, Massachusetts
Lincoln is a town in the historic area of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 6,362 at the 2010 census, including residents of Hanscom Air Force Base that live within town limits...
and received his A.B.
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 history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
and literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
magna cum laude from Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
in 1993. In his testimony to the Senate during his confirmation vetting, Barzun noted that he had served as a summer intern to Massachusetts Senator John Kerry in 1989. Prior to his college education Matthew Barzun was a student at St. Paul’s School in New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
. After graduating from Harvard College, Barzun began working with CNET Networks.
Political experience
Barzun’s small-dollar fundraisers were supporter driven via online event pages, and replicated throughout the country.In The Audacity to Win, author and political strategist David Plouffe
David Plouffe
David Plouffe is an American political strategist best known as the chief campaign manager for Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign in the United States...
describes Matthew Barzun’s grassroots campaign idea as “citizen fundraisers” that drove Obama’s connection with supporters.
The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, chaired by Senator John Kerry, was expected to approve Barzun's nomination during the week of 3–7 August 2009, but it was unknown if the full Senate would vote on it before recessing on 7 August. The nomination was confirmed on August 7 and Barzun was sworn in on August 12.
Diplomacy
Barzun was sworn in as U.S. Ambassador to SwedenSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
on August 12, 2009, and presented his credentials to King Carl XVI Gustaf
Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden
Carl XVI Gustaf is the reigning King of Sweden since 15 September 1973, succeeding his grandfather King Gustaf VI Adolf because his father had predeceased him...
on August 21, 2009. Barzun prioritized outreach and personal engagement, launching the U.S. Embassy Road Show that brings embassy personnel, resources, and exhibits out of Stockholm to smaller cities and towns. In partnership with the Swedish government, he also created the Swedish American Green Alliance where Swedes and Americans share news and ideas toward a clean energy future.
Personal
Matthew Barzun is a descendent of John Winthrop, the first governor of MassachusettsMassachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, and Lucretia Mott
Lucretia Mott
Lucretia Coffin Mott was an American Quaker, abolitionist, social reformer, and proponent of women's rights.- Early life and education:...
, a proponent of women's rights. He is married (since 1999) to Brooke Brown Barzun
Brooke Barzun
Brooke Barzun, is an art curator and philanthropist living in Stockholm, Sweden with her husband, Matthew Barzun, the United States Ambassador to Sweden...
. They have three children, Jacques Barzun II, Eleanor Barzun, and Charles Barzun. Matthew Barzun’s grandfather is the renowned French-born American cultural historian and former Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
professor, Jacques Martin Barzun. He is one of four children, his younger sister is film producer Lucy Barzun Donnelly
Lucy Barzun Donnelly
Lucy Barzun Donnelly is the executive producer of Grey Gardens.She is the sister of Matthew Barzun and the granddaughter of Jacques Barzun.Lucy Barzun Donnelly is an award winning film and television producer based in New York...
, Emmy and Golden Globe winner for her work producing Grey Gardens for HBO. His youngest brother, Charles Barzun, is a professor of law at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
.
Board memberships
- Center for Interfaith Relations
- Louisville Public Media
- Louisville Free Public Library Foundation
- Louisville Urban League
- Teach Kentucky
- Member, Prichard Committee
- Greater Louisville Project