Doris Speer

Doris Speer is President of the Association of Americans Resident Overseas (AARO), a non-profit, non-partisan association formed in 1973 based in Paris, France with members in over 36 countries. AARO seeks fair treatment by the U.S. government for Americans abroad, informs its members of issues affecting them and of their rights and responsibilities as American citizens, and builds awareness in the U.S. of the issues affecting fellow Americans overseas and the inequities regarding their rights.

Doris was born near Detroit, Michigan and has been working in France since 2004. Doris was with the Alstom Group for 17 years, culminating as Deputy General Counsel, Business Transactions, responsible for the Group's worldwide M&A activity. She started her legal career in New York at Shearman & Sterling, representing clients in M&A and corporate finance. Doris is a graduate of Wayne State University with a diploma in Music, a graduate summa cum laude of Michigan State University College of Law and has earned an Executive MBA from HEC in Paris. She currently teaches international contracts in Paris. Prior to her career in the law, Doris was a professional percussionist for several years and she continues to be active in music and dance.

In her role at AARO, Doris has been interviewed many times on the issues facing overseas Americans. She has written several articles and informational publications, and has advocated for the rights of Americans abroad on the Hill in the areas of taxation, banking, Social Security/Medicare, voting and citizenship.