Anne East. Derse completed her Bachelor of Arts in French and Linguistics from Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in 1976 and her Master of Arts in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University"s Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (School of Advanced International Studies) in 1981. She also graduated with distinction from the State Department"s Economic and Commercial Studies program in 1989.
Derse is married to fellow (now retired) foreign service officer East. Mason "Hank" Hendrickson. Derse joined the Department of State in 1981, and served in Trinidad and Tobago from 1981 to 1983. Her most influential role came in 1999 when, as Minister Counselor for Economic Affairs at the United States. Mission to the European Union (USEU), she led the Mission"s economic team covering United States.-European Union economic relations and served as the last United States. Commissioner on the Tripartite Gold Commission, which adjudicated sovereign claims for Nazi gold recovered by the Allies after World World War World War II In late 2004 she assisted in establishing the new United States. Embassy in Baghdad, serving there as Minister Counselor for Economic Affairs.
Derse was the United States. Ambassador to the Republic of Azerbaijan from May 2006 until July 2009.
On June 4, 2009, it was announced that Derse would be appointed by President Barack Obama to serve as ambassador to Lithuania. She was confirmed by the Senate on July 24, 2009.
She was sworn in on September 28, 2009, and presented her credentials on October 14, 2009.
