Alan D. Solomont

Ambassador Alan D. Solomont is the incoming Pierre and Pamela Omidyar Dean of Tufts University’s Jonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service. He will assume that role in January, 2014. The mission of Tisch College is to ensure that every student at Tufts University is educated to be an active citizen.

Nominated by President Obama in 2009, Solomont served until July, 2013 as the United States Ambassador to Spain and Andorra. As the President’s representative, Ambassador Solomont strengthened Spain’s cooperation with the United States on matters of global security. He was a tireless advocate for American business in Spain, and he supported investment by Spanish companies in the United States. He and his wife Susan promoted the values of volunteering and citizen service throughout their host country.

In addition to his position at Tufts, Solomont is a Visiting Distinguished Professor at IE University’s School of International Relations in Madrid, and he is an advisor to several Spanish companies regarding their business in the United States.

Prior to his diplomatic service, Ambassador Solomont was an entrepreneur, philanthropist and political activist.  He served as Chairman of the bipartisan Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency that oversees all domestic service programs, including AmeriCorps, Learn and Serve America, VISTA and Senior Corps.  He was appointed to the Board by President Clinton in 2000, re-appointed by President Bush in 2007 and elected chairman in 2009.

Ambassador Solomont spent his professional career in the health and eldercare arenas.   He was formerly Chairman of the ADS Group, a regional provider of nursing care, assisted living and home care services which he sold to the Multicare Companies in 1996. He is a co-founder of HouseWorks, a home care company that helps seniors remain independent at home and supports families caring for aging relatives.  He was also a founder and Managing Director of Angel Healthcare Investors, which invested in early stage health care companies.  In addition to his own businesses, he has served on the boards of several non-profit and for-profit organizations, including the Boston Medical Center, Boston Private Bank & Trust Co., Tufts University, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library Foundation and the WGBH Educational Foundation.  He chaired the Boards of Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston and Hebrew Senior Life, a large nonprofit elder care provider in Boston.

Ambassador Solomont has been a longtime leader in the Democratic Party, serving as its National Finance Chair in 1997-1998.  He was a crucial supporter of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in 2008, and he is a longtime friend of Secretary of State, John Kerry.  Drawing on his personal involvement and interest in American politics, Ambassador Solomont taught an undergraduate political science course on the American Presidency as a Senior Fellow and Visiting Instructor at Tufts University.

Ambassador Solomont holds a B.A. in Political Science and Urban Studies from Tufts University and a B.S. in Nursing from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell.  After graduating from Tufts in 1970, he was awarded a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship for independent study and travel abroad, during which time he made his first visit to Spain.

Solomont has received honorary degrees from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell and Suffolk University.

He is married to Susan Lewis Solomont, and they have two grown daughters. 

Source: University Programs and Events Planning Resources, November 2013