Steinfeld currently serves as the Political Counselor for the U.S. Mission to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), a position he has held since 1999. Steinfeld works at the OSCE headquarters in Vienna, Austria, where he is responsible for the management of a large political region, which includes the area of the former Yugoslavia. "I assist with things like conflict prevention and democracy building," he explained. In his current office, Steinfeld has worked on such problems as aggressive nationalism, ethnic cleansing and anti-Semitism.
The OSCE is a security organization employing more than 4,000 workers and made up of 55 states from Europe, Central Asia and North America. The member states are involved in developing early warning systems, promoting political processes, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation. All OSCE states have equal status within the organization and decisions are based on consensus.
Scholastic musings
At Amherst, Steinfeld majored in Russian Language and Literature, speaking fondly of Professor of Russian Stanley Rabinowitz. Much of his extracuricular attention was devoted to the Glee Club; Steinfeld was a member throughout his time at the College. He spent a semester studying abroad in St. Petersburg, which contributed to his interest in foreign affairs.
Steinfeld remarks that although he had always been very aware of the world, his Amherst education reinforced that awareness. "My main memories of Amherst are of studying hard and of being awakened to the world," he commented. "The skills I learned at Amherst, being able to analyze, reflect and write well have certainly helped me in my career."
Steinfeld's decision to attend Amherst was somewhat impulsive. "My decision to attend Amherst was fairly arbitrary. I did the New England tour, got in, and that was the end of that," he said. "I absolutely feel it was a great experience."
The year after Steinfeld graduated, Amherst became co-ed. "Most people I talked to at reunion feel it was a good change," said Steinfeld. "There were a few dissident voices, but most people think it feels like a happier place now."
Not only is Steinfeld envious of the co-educational experience at Amherst, but also the new technology available to students. "When I was there, we had to type on Smith-Corona typewriters and use white-out tape," he said."I bet most Amherst students today have never even heard of white out tape!"
After taking a year off upon his graduation from Amherst, Steinfeld attended The Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, where he received a Master's degree after completing studies in Bologna, Italy and Washington D.C.
The foreign student
Steinfeld's passion for foreign affairs led him to take the rigorous exam. "I realized that was the best way to be involved in foreign affairs," added Steinfeld. The exam has 3 multiple choice sections testing knowledge of political systems, command of the English language and biographical sections in addition to a written essay section. Frequent job changes are characteristic of a career in the foreign service, and Steinfeld has had his share. Since he began working for the state department 21 years ago, he has held 11 positions.
After passing the foreign service exam, Steinfeld was given several options for his first assignment. "When you first start out, you usually don't have much choice. As in any bureaucracy, the longer you work for the Foreign Service, the more choice you're given," he commented. Steinfeld chose to take a job at the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait, where he worked from 1980-1982 as an Economic Affairs Officer, assisting in the economic development of Kuwait.
Eastern allegiance
It was this post at the U.S. embassy in Kuwait that sparked Steinfeld's interest in Middle Eastern and European affairs, which has led to positions as Staff Assistant to Under Secretary for Security Assistance, Desk Officer for Saudi Arabia and the Yemens and Special Assistant for Middle Eastern Affairs for Under Secretary for Political Affairs.
In 1988, Steinfeld was appointed Political Officer of the U.S. Embassy in Paris; his task was internal reporting to the Embassy. Before assuming this post, Steinfeld attended the Ecole Nationale d'Administration Paris for 2 years.
Steinfeld described his assignment as the Deputy Political Counselor in charge of external political reporting at the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv to be particularly stimulating. In preparation for this position he studied Hebrew at the Foreign Service Institute in Washington D.C.. Steinfeld said Israel was particularly fascinating. "I arrived in Israel in 1992, when Yitzhak Rabin was prime minister, and I left in 1995, just before Rabin was assassinated. That was a very interesting time in Israel," he added because of the political undercurrents and tensions that dominated his time there.
Unlike a famous actor with a similar name, Steinfeld's life has been anything but "about nothing."