List of heads of state and government educated in the United States


This is a list of non-American heads of state and heads of government who have received their undergraduate or postgraduate education from American colleges and universities.

Head of State or Government Country Term(s) of Office University Graduation
Sir Donald Tsang  Hong Kong 2005-2012 Harvard University 1981 - MPA
Lawrence Wong  Singapore 2024-present University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Michigan
Harvard University
1994 - BS, Economics (University of Wisconsin–Madison)
1995 - MA, Applied Economics (University of Michigan)
2004 - MPA (Harvard University)
Hun Manet  Cambodia 2023–present New York University 2002 – MA, Economics
José Ramos-Horta  East Timor 2022–present Antioch University
Columbia University
1984 – MA, Peace Studies, Post-graduate courses in American Foreign Policy[1]
Rodrigo Chaves Robles  Costa Rica 2022–present Ohio State University BA, MA, Economics, 1994 – PhD, Agricultural Economics[2]
Maia Sandu  Moldova 2021–present Harvard University 2010 – diploma, Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University – MD
Mokgweetsi Masisi  Botswana 2018–present Florida State University 1991 – MA, Social Science Education[3]
Salome Zourabichvili  Georgia 2018–present Columbia University Master's Degree[4]
Tsai Ing-wen  Republic of China 2016–present Cornell University Master of Laws at Cornell University Law School in 1980
Philippe of Belgium  Belgium 2013–present Stanford University 1985 – MA, Political Science [5]
Felipe VI  Spain 2014-present Georgetown University 1991, MSc from Walsh School of Foreign Service
Albert II  Monaco 2005–present Amherst College 1977–1981 BA, Political Science[6]
Kiril Petkov  Bulgaria 2021–2022 Harvard University Master of Business Administration
Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović  Croatia 2015–2020 George Washington University Fulbright scholar on pre-doctoral research in international relations and security policy at George Washington University in 2003 [7]
Hastings Banda  Malawi 1961–1994 Central State University

Indiana University University of Chicago Meharry Medical College

1925 – diploma, 1931 – BA, University of Chicago, 1937 – MD
Nnamdi Azikiwe  Nigeria 1963–1966 Howard University

Lincoln University (Pennsylvania) University of Pennsylvania

Laura Chinchilla  Costa Rica 2010–2014 Georgetown University Masters in public policy
Shinzō Abe  Japan 2006–2007, 2012–2020 University of Southern California Public policy
Mary Robinson  Ireland 1990–1997 Harvard University LLM from Harvard Law School
Ghazi Mashal Ajil al-Yawer  Iraq 2004–2005 American University

George Washington University

Masters from George Washington University
Rafael Correa  Ecuador 2007–2017 University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign 1999 (Master of Science in Economics), 2001 (PhD in Economics)
Yingluck Shinawatra  Thailand 2011–2014 Kentucky State University 1990 (MS in Public Administration)
Hafizullah Amin  Democratic Republic of Afghanistan September–December 1979 Columbia University 1962 (PhD in Education)
Jamshid Amuzegar  Iran 1977–1978 Cornell University PhD
Corazon Aquino  Philippines 1986–1992 College of Mount Saint Vincent 1953 (degree in French)
Arnulfo Arias  Panama 1940–1941, 1949–1951, 1968 University of Chicago[8]Harvard University MD from Harvard
Ehud Barak  Israel 1999–2001 Stanford University 1978 (Masters in engineering-economic systems)
José Manuel Barroso  Portugal 2002–2004 Georgetown University 1998 (research for a PhD)
Marek Belka  Poland 2004–2005 Columbia University, University of Chicago attended classes
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali  Tunisia 1987–2011 Senior Intelligence School (Maryland)

School for Anti-Aircraft Field Artillery (Texas)

training
Benazir Bhutto  Pakistan 1988–1990, 1993–1996 Harvard University 1973 (political science)
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto  Pakistan 1971–1973 University of Southern California, University of California, Berkeley 1950 (B.A. in political science from Berkeley)
Enrique Bolaños  Nicaragua 2002–2007 Saint Louis University[9] 1962 (B.A. in industrial engineering)
Felipe Calderón  Mexico 2006–2012 Harvard University Masters in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government
Juan Manuel Santos  Colombia 2010–2018 University of Kansas[10]
Harvard University
Bachelor in Economics and Business Administration
Masters in Political Science from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government
Alberto Fujimori  Peru 1990–2000 University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee 1971 (MS in Mathematics)
Toomas Hendrik Ilves  Estonia 2006–2016 Columbia University

University of Pennsylvania

Masters in psychology
Kostas Karamanlis  Greece 2004–2009 Tufts University master's degree and doctorate in political sciences, international relations and diplomatic history
Karl Carstens  West Germany 1979–1984 Yale University 1949 (Master of Laws)
Ahmed Chalabi  Iraq September 2003 MIT, University of Chicago 1965 (Bachelors in Math from MIT), 1969 (PhD in Math from Chicago)
Sanford B. Dole[11]  Republic of Hawaii 1894–1900 Williams College[12] attended classes
Mario García Menocal  Cuba 1913–1921 Cornell University 1888 in the College of Engineering
Václav Klaus  Czech Republic 2003–2013 Cornell University Attended Cornell in 1969
François Duvalier  Haiti 1957–1971 University of Michigan studied public health
Ricardo Arias Espinosa  Panama 1955–1956 Georgetown University 1935 (Walsh School of Foreign Service)
Ricardo de la Espriella  Panama 1982–1984 Stanford University Economics
Vicente Fox  Mexico 2000–2006 Harvard University attended classes
Alberto Fujimori  Peru 1990–2000 University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee 1969 (master's degree in mathematics)
Goh Chok Tong  Singapore 1990–2004 Williams College 1967 (MA in Development Economics)
Ernesto de la Guardia Navarro  Panama 1956–1960 Dartmouth College Masters in Finance
Jorge Illueca  Panama February–October 1984 Harvard University

University of Chicago

1955 (Law)[13]
Cheddi Jagan  Guyana 1992–1997 Howard University Dental School, and Northwestern University
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf  Liberia 2006–2018 Madison Business College

University of Colorado Harvard University

1964 (BBA in Accounting from Madison), 1970 (economics diploma from Colorado), 1971 (Master of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government)
Uhuru Kenyatta  Kenya 2013–2022 Amherst College 1985 (Political science)
William Lyon Mackenzie King  Canada 1921–1926, 1926–1930, 1935–1948 University of Chicago, Harvard University 1898 (MA in political economy from Harvard), 1909 (PhD from Harvard)
Ricardo Lagos  Chile 2000–2006 Duke University 1962 (PhD)
Hastings Banda  Malawi Prime Minister of Malawi (1964–1966), President of Malawi (1966–1994) University of Chicago Ph.B. 1931
José P. Laurel  Philippines 1943–1945 Yale University 1920 (Law)
Salvador Laurel[14]  Philippines February–March 1986 Yale University 1953 (LL.M.), 1960 (Law)
Lee Hsien Loong  Singapore 2004–2024 Harvard University 1980 MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government
Lee Teng-Hui  Republic of China 1988–2000 Iowa State University

Cornell University

1953 (Master's degree in agricultural economics); 1968 (PhD in agricultural economics)
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo  Philippines 2001–2010 Georgetown University attended 1964–1966
Golda Meir  Israel 1969–1974 Milwaukee State Normal School Graduate
Mireya Moscoso  Panama 1999–2004 Miami-Dade College Interior design diploma
Benjamin Netanyahu  Israel 1996–1999, 2009–2021, 2022–present Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Harvard University
B.Sc in Architecture from MIT
MBA from MIT
Kwame Nkrumah  Ghana 1957–1966 Lincoln University (Pennsylvania)
University of Pennsylvania
1939 (BA from Lincoln), 1942 (MS in Education from Penn), 1943 (MA in Philosophy from Penn)
Olof Palme  Sweden 1969–1976, 1982–1986 Kenyon College 1948 (BA)
Andreas Papandreou  Greece 1981–1989, 1993–1996 Harvard University 1943 (PhD in economics)[15]
Ernesto Pérez Balladares  Panama 1994–1999 University of Notre Dame

University of Pennsylvania

1969 (Masters in Economics from Notre Dame), 1970 (Masters in Marketing from Pennsylvania)
Fidel V. Ramos  Philippines 1992–1998 United States Military Academy

University of Illinois

1950 (West Point), 1951 (Master's degree in Civil Engineering from Illinois)
Syngman Rhee  South Korea 1948–1960 George Washington University, Harvard University, Princeton University 1907 (GWU), 1909 (MA from Harvard), 1910 (PhD in politics from Princeton)[16]
Joseph Jenkins Roberts  Liberia 1848–1856, 1872–1876 Norfolk Academy, Maury High School
Edward James Roye  Liberia 1870–1871 Ohio University
Carlos Salinas  Mexico 1988–1994 Harvard University 1973 (MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government), 1976 (master's in Political Economics), 1976 (PhD in Political Economics and Government)
Martín Torrijos  Panama 2004–2009

Texas A&M University

1987 (Political Science and Economics)
Pierre Trudeau  Canada 1968–1979

1980–1984

Harvard University

MA in Political Economy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government
Alvaro Magaña  El Salvador 1982–1984 University of Chicago A.M 1955
José Napoleón Duarte  El Salvador 1984–1989 University of Notre Dame B.S. in Engineering 1948
Ma Ying-jeou  Republic of China 2008–2016 Harvard University PhD
Ernesto Zedillo  Mexico 1994–2000 Yale University PhD
Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada  Bolivia 1993–1997, 2002–2003 University of Chicago 1952
Abdiweli Gaas  Somalia 2011–2012 Vanderbilt University
Harvard University
George Mason University
MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government
Rafael Leonardo Callejas Romero  Honduras 1990–1994 Mississippi State University B.S. and M.S. in agricultural economics
Mario Monti  Italy 2011–2013 Yale University M.Sc. in economics, 1968
Christopher Loeak  Marshall Islands 2011–2016 Portland Community College[17] Hawaii Pacific College

Gonzaga University School of Law

1978 (Bachelor's from Hawaii Pacific), 1982 (JD from Gonzaga)[18]
José Ramón Guizado  Panama 1955 Vanderbilt University B.E., 1920
Jamil Mahuad  Ecuador 1998–2000 Harvard University 1989 (MPA Masters of Public Administration)

Notes

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  1. ^ "Columbia University World Leaders Forum – José Manuel Ramos-Horta". Archived from the original on 2017-03-23. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  2. ^ "AEDE Alums Robert M. McClelland, Dr. Rodrigo A. Chaves and Joseph A. Shultz to be Honored by the CFAES Alumni Society". Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  3. ^ "Florida State welcomes president of Botswana for official visit". 20 September 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  4. ^ "SALOMÉ ZOURABICHVILI A PORTRAIT AND EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW". 9 March 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  5. ^ "The Royal Family – The King". Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  6. ^ "A prince graduates". UPI. Retrieved 2017-09-06.
  7. ^ "World Leaders Forum – Columbia University". Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  8. ^ "Arnulfo Arias Biography". www.BookRags.com. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  9. ^ "Alum Elected President of Nicaragua By Wide Margin – Saint Louis University". Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  10. ^ Esau, John (November 2012). "Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos Visits Delta Upsilon Chapter at the University of Kansas". Delta Upsilon Quarterly. 130 (4). Indianapolis, IN: Delta Upsilon fraternity: 38–39. OCLC 6644516. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  11. ^ Dole served as President of the Republic of Hawaii.
  12. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-07-20. Retrieved 2006-08-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. ^ "JORGE E. ILLUECA – 38th Session". Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  14. ^ Laurel served as head of government as Prime Minister for one month until the position was eliminated.
  15. ^ "Biographies". Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  16. ^ "Syngman Rhee". Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  17. ^ Loeak, Anono Lieom; Kiluwe, Veronica C.; Crowl, Linda (2004). Life in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Editorips@usp.ac.fj. ISBN 9789820203648. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  18. ^ Loeak, Anono Lieom; Kiluwe, Veronica C.; Crowl, Linda (2004). Life in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Editorips@usp.ac.fj. ISBN 9789820203648. Retrieved 29 January 2015.