Department of Economics

The very first College Bicentennial Medal was awarded to Ambassador Hans Klemm on September 5, 2019. He earned his BA from IU Bloomington in Economics and History in 1980. The award was presented by Rick van Kooten, Executive Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Present at the presentation of the award were Prof. Wendy Gamber, Chair of the Department of History and Prof. Gerhard Glomm, Chair of the Department of Economics. We all congratulate Ambassador Klemm for his distinguished career and service. Below you will find a brief biography for Ambassador Klemm.

The United States Senate confirmed Hans Klemm as the next U.S. Ambassador to Romania on August 5, 2015. Previously, Ambassador Klemm was the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Human Resources, and served as Acting Director General of the Foreign Service and Acting Director of Personnel of the Department of State from July 2013 through December 2014. In 2012, Ambassador Klemm was the U.S. Senior Official to APEC, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, and from 2010 led all U.S. civilian and military rule of law programs in Afghanistan.

Beginning in 2007, Mr. Klemm served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. He previously served as Minister Counselor for Economic Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, and held director-level positions in the bureaus of Human Resources, and Economic and Business Affairs in the Department of State. Overseas, in addition to multiple tours in Japan, Mr. Klemm worked at U.S. embassies in Bonn, Seoul and Port of Spain.