Melanne Verveer, born on June 24, 1944, in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, is the executive director of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace, and Security at Georgetown University. She also holds positions as a founding partner of Seneca Point Global, a women's strategy firm, and as a co-founder of Seneca Women. Verveer co-authored the book "Fast Forward: How Women Can Achieve Power and Purpose" with Kim Azzarelli.

The Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues is the ambassador-at-large who heads the Office of Global Women's Issues in the United States Department of State. This ambassador-at-large also has the rank of Assistant Secretary.