Before coming to Hungary in 1991, she served the Reagan-Bush and Bush-Quayle administrations in various capacities at the White House, the Republican National Committee, and the US Department of State.

Julianna is a member of the Board of Directors of United Way in Hungary. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Society of Jesus Foundation, which supports the work of the Hungarian Jesuit community. Julianna is a graduate of John Carroll University, Cleveland’s Jesuit University. She likes to travel with her daughter, Anna, and shares her passion for music.


1. Where did you grow up?
Cleveland, Ohio, 'The Best Location in the Nation'

2. What Hungarian traditions bring back fond memories of your childhood?
As a Hungarian-American, we celebrated Hungarian traditions throughout my childhood. That said, I do miss celebrating Christmas and Hanukkah back home with our neighbors of 45 years, the Kanter's.

3. What would you miss most if you moved away from Hungary?
Farmers' markets and craft/design fairs.

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?
A visit to a bath, a night at the Opera, and long walks pretty much anywhere: Andrassy ut, the Castle district, Raday utca...

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?
Lángos.

6. What is never missing from your kitchen?
Yogurt, cheese, ham, sausage, and fresh bread...

7. What is your favourite place in Hungary?
Anywhere my daughter is.

8. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
Something in the arts; several of my relatives, including my dad, are very gifted, musically, so I suppose I have the genes for it lurking somewhere...

9. What’s a job you would definitely never want?
Any job I'd have to take out of sheer desperation is one I'd never want.

10. Where did you spend your last vacation?
Cleveland

11. Where do you hope to spend your next one?
Cleveland (What can I say? It's got everything and more!)

12. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Hungarian scouts, sailing on Lake Erie with my family.

13. What can’t you resist?
Sleeping in on weekends.

14. Red wine or white?
Red

15. Kolbász or sushi?
Sushi

16. Book or movie?
Movie, preferably a comedy.

17. Morning person or night person?
Morning person

18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?
As a board member of United Way in Hungary, I would say preventing avoidable accidents among children, which is our current focus.

19. Buda side or Pest side?
Definitely Pest.

20. What would you say is your personal motto?
The best is yet to come...