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T. Alexander Aleinikoff '74 Appointed United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees

T. Alexander Aleinikoff '74 Appointed United Nations
Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees

by Stacey Kutish
12/4/09

T. Alexander Aleinikoff ’74
T. Alexander Aleinikoff ’74

T. Alexander Aleinikoff '74 has been named the new United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees. In this capacity, Aleinikoff will execute the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' mission to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees around the world. There are currently approximately 34 million refugees and internally displaced people worldwide.

After graduating from Swarthmore with a degree in political science, Aleinikoff earned a J.D. from Yale University, specializing in constitutional and immigration law. In reflecting on his time at the College, Aleinikoff recalled how his Swarthmore experience set him on the course toward his remarkable career in public service and the law: "In some alchemical way, the calm contemplation forged iron-like commitments to seek to make the world more just."

Aleinikoff most recently served as dean of the Georgetown University Law Center. He previously served as a senior official in the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. Aleinikoff co-chaired the Immigration Policy Review Team for President Barack Obama's transition.