Amanda Sloat: IE University Professor and Former Senior Director for Europe

Dr. Amanda Sloat, a former senior official in the United States government, has warned that the distrust currently existing between Europe and the United States will persist for a generation.

The political scientist, who previously served in national security and diplomacy roles for two Democratic presidents, has encouraged European nations to resist the authoritarianism associated with Donald Trump, according to a February 26, 2026, report by EL PAÍS.

Academic Leadership at IE University

Dr. Sloat currently serves as a Professor of Practice in the School of Politics, Economics, and Global Affairs at IE University in Madrid, Spain. She joined the faculty on March 27, 2025.

In her role, she leads the Transatlantic Relations in a Changing World Program, which is housed within the university’s Global Policy Center. This center serves as a platform for applied research and policy dialogue.

As part of this program, Dr. Sloat oversees the annual Transatlantic Bridge Conference. This event is organized through a collaboration between IE University and several other institutions, including Sciences Po Paris (PSIA), Yale’s Jackson School of Global Affairs, and Johns Hopkins SAIS.

Government and Diplomatic Background

Prior to her appointment at IE University, Dr. Sloat held several senior positions within the United States government. From 2021 to 2023, she served in the Biden Administration as the Special Assistant to the President and the Senior Director for Europe at the National Security Council.

Her government experience also includes work on European policy within the United States Congress and the State Department.

Academic and Research Credentials

Dr. Sloat holds a Ph.D. In Politics from the University of Edinburgh and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Theory from James Madison College at Michigan State University.

Her professional history includes several high-level research and fellowship positions:

• Robert Bosch Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Center on the United States and Europe from 2017 to 2020.
• Fellow in the Project on Europe and the Transatlantic Relationship at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs from 2018 to 2020.
• Fellow in the Hard Places Initiative at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Ash Center in 2017.
• Post-doctoral research fellow at the Institute of Governance at Queen’s University Belfast from 2001 to 2005.
• Visiting fellow at the United Nations Research Institute on Social Development in Switzerland in 2004.
• Visiting fellow at the Jean Monnet Center at New York University’s School of Law in 2004.
• Visiting fellow at the Academy of Sciences in the Czech Republic in 2000.

Dr. Sloat is the author of the book Scotland in Europe: A Study of Multi-Level Governance, published by Peter Lang in 2002. She has also contributed numerous articles and policy papers regarding European politics to various media outlets and academic publications.

At IE University, Dr. Sloat engages with undergraduate and master’s students to provide expertise in international governance, transatlantic relations, and foreign policy, aiming to bridge the gap between theoretical academic study and practical diplomatic application.