This Sculptor was the Second Highest-Ranking Woman in the US Government: Meet Paula Stern

Paula Stern kept her passion for sculpting hidden from her family, friends and colleagues for many years–at one point even her husband was unaware. With a masters degree in Middle Eastern Studies from Harvard University in Boston, and a PhD in International Studies from the Fletcher School at Tufts University in Medford, Mass, her professional career had been more globally oriented. After time spent as a journalist in the Middle East, writing for the New Republic and the Atlantic, she and her husband, Paul London, settled down in Washington, DC to pursue a career in government. This culminated in her role as the chair of the US International Trade Commision, making her (at that time) the second highest-ranking woman in the executive branch of the US Government. Paula’s quiet obsession with sculpting eventually became known, and her subjects would include such notables as Nelson Mandela, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and former president Bill Clinton. Learn how Paula integrated these very different aspects of her life on this week’s episode of Radio Maine.

Every week, Dr. Lisa Belisle brings you an interview with a member of Maine’s community, including artists, designers, and more. Subscribe to Radio Maine on YouTube, so you never miss an episode.

This artist is represented by the Portland Art Gallery of Maine. Click here to view their art.