The Kennedy Center's 2025 honored alum is Ambassador Jeffrey M. Hovenier. Come hear him deliver his Honored Alumni Lecture at the Kennedy Center, part of Homecoming Week.
Ambassador Jeffrey M. Hovenier (BA ’88) left the Department of State in 2024 after more than 34 years in public service as a Foreign Service officer representing the United States in Europe and Latin America. Throughout his career, Hovenier served as Ambassador to Kosovo, Chargé d’Affaires and Deputy Chief of Mission in Türkiye, and Acting Deputy Chief of Mission and Minister Counselor for Political Affairs at the U.S. Embassy to Germany. He served at U.S. Embassies in Peru, Greece, Croatia, Paraguay, Panama, and in the U.S. Mission to the OSCE. In Washington, D.C., he served as Director for Central and Southeastern European Affairs for the National Security Council at the White House and in the State Department’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs.
Hovenier is the recipient of numerous State Department Awards, a Presidential Rank Award, and government honors from the Republic of Kosovo. He has a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University, a master’s degree from Georgetown University, and speaks German, Greek, Croatian, and Spanish. He is married to Laura Williams Hovenier and has four children and seven grandchildren.