Aurelia E. Brazeal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aurelia E. Brazeal
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| United States Ambassador to Ethiopia | |
| In office November 20, 2002 – September 2, 2005 |
|
| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Tibor P. Nagy |
| Succeeded by | Donald Yamamoto |
| United States Ambassador to Kenya | |
| In office August 9, 1993 – September 11, 1996 |
|
| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Smith Hempstone, Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Prudence Bushnell |
| United States Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia | |
| In office August 6, 1990 – July 6, 1993 |
|
| President | George H. W. Bush |
| Preceded by | position established |
| Succeeded by | March Fong Eu |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 24, 1943 Chicago |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Spelman College Columbia University Harvard University |
Aurelia Erskine Brazeal, born in 1943, is a talented American diplomat who worked for her country for many years. She served as an Ambassador to three different countries: Micronesia, Kenya, and Ethiopia. An Ambassador is a special representative from one country to another. They help keep peace and good relationships between nations.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Aurelia Brazeal was born in Chicago on November 24, 1943. She grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, with her sister. Her father, Brailsford Reese Brazeal, was a teacher and an expert in economics. A building at Morehouse College is named after him. Aurelia went to Northfield School for Girls for high school.
She then studied political science at Spelman College, earning her degree in 1965. In 1967, she earned a master's degree in International Affairs from Columbia University. Later, she continued her studies at Harvard University.
A Career in Diplomacy
Aurelia Brazeal joined the U.S. Foreign Service in 1968. The Foreign Service is a group of people who work for the U.S. government in other countries. Their job is to help America's relationships with countries around the world.
Early Assignments
Her first job was at the United States Department of State, where she worked on economic issues. She focused on helping countries in South America and Southeast Asia develop market economies and democracies.
From 1969 to 1971, she worked in Argentina as a Consular and Economic Officer. This meant she helped American citizens in Argentina and worked on economic matters. After that, she worked in different offices at the State Department in Washington, D.C.
Between 1974 and 1981, her work took her to U.S. Embassies in Uruguay, Paraguay, and Japan.
Returning to Washington and Japan
In 1982, Brazeal returned to Washington, D.C.. She held several important roles, including Deputy Director for Economics from 1984 to 1986. She also spent two years at the Foreign Service Institute, learning more about foreign policy. From 1987 to 1990, she worked at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, Japan, again.
Becoming an Ambassador
On June 6, 1990, President George H. W. Bush chose Aurelia Brazeal to be the U.S. Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia. This was a very important step. Before her, the U.S. had a representative there, but the office was upgraded to an Embassy.
When the Senate approved her, Brazeal became the first U.S. Ambassador to Micronesia. She was also the first African American woman in the Foreign Service to reach such a high rank.
Because of her great success, President Bill Clinton nominated her to be the U.S. Ambassador to Kenya. She served in Kenya from 1993 to 1996. Her job was to improve the relationship between Kenya and the U.S., which had become difficult. She also worked to encourage economic and political changes in Kenya.
Leadership Roles and Ethiopia
After her time in Kenya, Brazeal became the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific. She held this position from 1996 to 1998. In this role, she shared her knowledge of the region with Congress.
In 1998, she became the Dean of Senior Seminar and the first Dean of the Leadership and Management School at the Foreign Service Institute. She held these leadership roles until 2002.
On June 14, 2002, U.S. President George W. Bush announced his plan to nominate Aurelia Brazeal as the U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia. This was a historic moment because she was the first African American woman to be named U.S. Ambassador by three different presidents! She served in Ethiopia until 2005.
Retirement and Continued Service
From 2005 to 2008, Brazeal held the title of Career Minister in the Senior Foreign Service. During this time, she also worked at Howard University as a Distinguished Visiting Ambassador and Diplomat-in-Residence. Aurelia Brazeal retired in 2008, after serving her country for 41 years in the Foreign Service.
Even after retiring, Ambassador Brazeal has continued to be involved in public service. She has served as President of the Association of Black American Ambassadors (ABAA). She is also a member of several important groups, including the Council on Foreign Relations, which focuses on international issues.
