Thomas Patrick Melady
Encyclopedia
Thomas Patrick Melady served as an American ambassador under three presidents and as a sub-cabinet officer for a fourth, and remains active in foreign affairs and international relations. Since 2002, he is Senior Diplomat in residence at The Institute of World Politics
in Washington, DC.
After his graduation from high school he served in the U.S. Army from 1945–1947, then graduated from Duquesne University
in 1950 (B.A.) and The Catholic University of America
in 1955 (M.A., Ph.D.). He was an adjunct professor at St. John's University
and president of the Africa Service Institute in New York
, from 1959 to 1967. From 1966 to 1969 he was adjunct professor at Fordham University
.
A former consultant for the National Urban League
in New York and chairman of Seton Hall University
, he was appointed by President Richard M. Nixon as Ambassador to Burundi
in 1969, Senior Advisor to the US delegation to the UN General Assembly in 1970, and Ambassador to Uganda
from 1972 to 1973.
In 1989 he was appointed by President George H.W. Bush as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Holy See
. After completing his assignment to the Holy See
during the first year of the administration of President Bill Clinton
, he served as Distinguished Visiting Professor at George Washington University
in Washington, D.C. According to the Associated Press
, his first instruction, since declassified, was to influence the Vatican to recognize the state of Israel, something which was done a few years later in 1993.
He served as President of Sacred Heart University
in Fairfield, Connecticut from 1976 to 1986, when he became the University's President Emeritus. While on leave from the University, he was a consultant to the U.S. Secretary of Education
and was appointed by President Ronald Reagan
to serve as Assistant Secretary for Post-secondary Education.
Melady is an authority on Afro-Asian and Central European Affairs. He is the author of 15 books and over one hundred-eighty articles, including Western Policy and the Third World, Uganda: The Asian Exiles, The United States and the Vatican in World Affairs, and "Bosnia and Herzegovina: The Future? Part II". Twenty-eight universities have conferred honorary doctorates on Ambassador Melady and he has been honored by six countries. He is married and has two children.
The Institute of World Politics
The Institute of World Politics is an independent, regionally accredited graduate school of national security and international affairs. Founded in 1990 and located in Washington, D.C., U.S., the school focuses on the development of leaders in the intelligence, national security, and diplomatic...
in Washington, DC.
After his graduation from high school he served in the U.S. Army from 1945–1947, then graduated from Duquesne University
Duquesne University
Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened its doors as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of...
in 1950 (B.A.) and The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
in 1955 (M.A., Ph.D.). He was an adjunct professor at St. John's University
St. John's University (New York City)
St. John's University is a private, Roman Catholic, coeducational university located in New York City, United States. Founded by the Congregation of the Mission in 1870, the school was originally located in the borough of Brooklyn in the neighborhood of Bedford–Stuyvesant...
and president of the Africa Service Institute in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, from 1959 to 1967. From 1966 to 1969 he was adjunct professor at Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
.
A former consultant for the National Urban League
National Urban League
The National Urban League , formerly known as the National League on Urban Conditions Among Negroes, is a nonpartisan civil rights organization based in New York City that advocates on behalf of African Americans and against racial discrimination in the United States. It is the oldest and largest...
in New York and chairman of 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...
, he was appointed by President Richard M. Nixon as Ambassador to Burundi
Burundi
Burundi , officially the Republic of Burundi , is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital is Bujumbura...
in 1969, Senior Advisor to the US delegation to the UN General Assembly in 1970, and Ambassador to Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
from 1972 to 1973.
In 1989 he was appointed by President George H.W. Bush as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Holy See
United States Ambassador to the Holy See
A U.S. Ambassador serves as that country's official representative to the Holy See since formal diplomatic relations began in 1984. Before the establishment of official relations, Myron Taylor served during World War II as an emissary for President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1951, President Harry S....
. After completing his assignment to the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
during the first year of the administration of President 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...
, he served as Distinguished Visiting Professor at George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
in Washington, D.C. According to the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, his first instruction, since declassified, was to influence the Vatican to recognize the state of Israel, something which was done a few years later in 1993.
He served as President of Sacred Heart University
Sacred Heart University
Sacred Heart University is a Roman Catholic university located in suburban Fairfield, Connecticut, United States. Sacred Heart was founded in 1963 by the Most Reverend Walter W. Curtis, Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Sacred Heart University was the first Catholic university in...
in Fairfield, Connecticut from 1976 to 1986, when he became the University's President Emeritus. While on leave from the University, he was a consultant to the U.S. Secretary of Education
United States Department of Education
The United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
and was appointed by President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
to serve as Assistant Secretary for Post-secondary Education.
Melady is an authority on Afro-Asian and Central European Affairs. He is the author of 15 books and over one hundred-eighty articles, including Western Policy and the Third World, Uganda: The Asian Exiles, The United States and the Vatican in World Affairs, and "Bosnia and Herzegovina: The Future? Part II". Twenty-eight universities have conferred honorary doctorates on Ambassador Melady and he has been honored by six countries. He is married and has two children.