Scobey graduated from Immaculate Conception High School in Memphis, Tennessee in 1967.

Scobey pursued doctoral studies in history at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

As a United States Foreign Service Officer, Scobey served at the U.S. embassies in many Middle and Near Eastern countries.

[citation needed] She was the Deputy Chief of Mission in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from September 2001 to November 2003, before receiving her first appointment as ambassador, to Syria.

[3] In February 2011, she spoke with Mohamed ElBaradei,[4] telling him: The U.S. is interested in a political change in Egypt, but that the US government won't dictate the path which Cairo must follow.