Who Is Who – Michael Young: A legal and diplomatic expert with a distinguished academic career

Michael Kent Young, nominated by the White House to serve as ambassador to Serbia, is an American lawyer and diplomat with extensive expertise in international law and diplomacy.

During his career, he held senior positions at the US Department of State and led several major American universities.

Born on November 4, 1949, in Sacramento, California, Young served as the 25th president of Texas A&M University from 2015 to 2020, the 31st president of the University of Washington from 2011 to 2015, the 14th president of the University of Utah from 2004 to 2011, and dean of the George Washington University Law School from 1998 to 2004.

He earned a bachelor's degree in political science and Japanese from Brigham Young University in 1973 and a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School in 1976.

After completing law school, a judicial clerkship, and positions at two law firms, Young joined the State Department, where he served as Deputy Legal Adviser.

He held the position of Deputy Legal Adviser at the State Department from 1986 to 1989. The role involved assisting the Legal Adviser in providing advice on international legal matters to the Secretary of State, senior department officials, and other executive branch bodies, including issues related to treaties, international organizations, and the legal dimensions of foreign policy.

During his tenure, which covered the final years of President Ronald Reagan's second term, the Office of the Legal Adviser dealt with complex international legal challenges aligned with the administration's priorities, such as arms control negotiations and responses to global conflicts, although the specific cases Young handled have not been publicly detailed in available records.

He also served as Deputy Under Secretary for Economic and Agricultural Affairs and as Ambassador for Trade and Environmental Affairs in the administration of George H. W. Bush.

Young worked on agreements related to German reunification, as well as on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Uruguay Round negotiations that led to the establishment of the World Trade Organization and the Earth Summit.

After leaving the State Department, Young became a professor and administrator at Columbia University from 1994 to 1998 and at George Washington University from 1998 to 2004.

His academic positions included serving as Professor of Japanese Law and Legal Institutions at Columbia Law School, as well as Dean and Professor of Comparative Law and Jurisprudence at George Washington University Law School.

Young was a member of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom from 1998 to 2005 and served as its chair on two occasions.

He was also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, reflecting his significant experience in foreign policy and international relations. In addition, he was a member of the American Bar Foundation.

Young belongs to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as the Mormon Church.

The position of United States ambassador to Serbia has remained vacant since the departure of Christopher Hill. Whether Young will assume the post will be decided by the US Senate.