Cynthia P. Schneider teaches, publishes, and organizes initiatives in the field of cultural diplomacy, with a focus on relations with the Muslim world. For the Brookings Institution she leads the Arts and Culture Initiative within the Saban Center for Middle East Policy. The Initiative’s activities include research, convening meetings in the U.S. and abroad and catalysing projects, such as the Muslims on Screen and Television Initiative (blogs for the Huffington Post and CNN.com to TED presentation on the global impact of American Idol, as well as speeches on the role of arts and culture in the U.S. –Islamic world relationship in venues from Kurdistan to Cairo.

From 1998-2001 she served as U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands, during which time she led initiatives in cultural diplomacy, biotechnology, cyber security, and education. In 2001 she was awarded the Office of the Secretary of Defence Exceptional Public Service Award, June 2001 (highest civilian award given by Pentagon, in recognition of support for the U.S. military during ambassadorship).

Dr. Schneider serves on the Board of Directors of Wesley Theological Seminary, Imagine Schools, and the Sandy Spring Museum, and the Advisory Boards of the Institute of Cultural Diplomacy, the Sustainable Preservation Initiative, and Singapore Technologies Telemedia (ST Telemedia) Eircom Advisory Board. Schneider received her B.A. and Ph.D. from Harvard University.

Dr. Schneider's research project for the Center is titled 'Public Diplomacy and Culture in Afghanistan and Pakistan.'