Aleisha Woodward's term ended on July 23, 2021.
Aleisha Woodward was the Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, she oversaw strategic planning, policy coordination, evaluation, innovation, and alumni engagement that cut across and support the program branches of ECA. Ms. Woodward also led the Bureau’s efforts to protect cultural heritage in support of foreign policy goals.
Since joining the Foreign Service in 1998, Ms. Woodward has served in at U.S. embassies in Japan, the United Kingdom, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Ireland, and Korea, and as Consul General in Perth, Australia. In Washington, she has worked in the Office of Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Islands and as a Senior Watch Officer in the Operations Center.
Ms. Woodward received undergraduate and graduate degrees in international relations from Brigham Young University. In 2010, she was awarded a graduate degree in national security strategy by the National War College.
Ms. Woodward speaks Japanese, Russian, and Romanian; she can also shop in Spanish and French. She grew up on a potato farm in the southeast of Washington state. She enjoys traveling, scuba diving, cheering for her favorite Australian Rules Football team, singing in her church choir, and keeping in touch with her large, extended family