Bisa Williams facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bisa Williams
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| United States Ambassador to Niger | |
| In office October 29, 2010 – September 13, 2013 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Bernadette M. Allen |
| Succeeded by | Eunice S. Reddick |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1954 (age 70–71) |
| Nationality | American |
| Children | 1 son |
| Relatives | Ntozake Shange (sister) Ifa Bayeza (sister) |
| Alma mater | National War College, University of California, Los Angeles, Yale College |
| Occupation | Ambassador |
| Website | Ambassador Bisa Williams |
Bisa Williams (born 1954) is an American diplomat. A diplomat is someone who represents their country and helps build good relationships with other nations. She served as the Ambassador from the United States of America to the Republic of Niger in Niamey. She started this important job on October 29, 2010, and finished on September 13, 2013.
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About Bisa Williams
Bisa Williams is a skilled American diplomat. She has worked for the United States government in many different countries. Her job is to help the U.S. have strong and friendly connections with other nations.
Early Life and Education
Bisa Williams was born in Trenton, New Jersey. She grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and Lawrenceville, New Jersey. She has two sisters, Ntozake Shange and Ifa Bayeza, who are both well-known writers.
Bisa Williams went to Yale College and earned a degree in 1976. She studied Black Literature of the Americas. Later, she continued her education. She received a master's degree from the National War College. She also earned another master's degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. This second degree was in comparative literature, which means studying different types of writing from various cultures.
Her Career as a Diplomat
Bisa Williams began her career as a foreign service officer in 1984. A foreign service officer works for their country's government in other nations. They help with diplomacy and international relations.
She has worked in many places around the world. Her past assignments include:
Her very first job overseas was in Port Louis, Mauritius. There, she was the Deputy Chief of Mission. This role means she was the second-in-command at the U.S. embassy. This mission also covered the countries of Seychelles and Comoros.
Working to Improve Relations
Before becoming an ambassador, Bisa Williams held another important role. She was the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs. In this job, she helped manage relationships with countries in North and South America.
In 2009, she traveled to Cuba. The goal of her trip was to improve relations between Cuba and the United States. During her visit, she met with Cuban officials. She also worked on restoring direct mail service between the two countries. She even invited people who disagreed with the Cuban government to a special meeting.
Becoming an Ambassador
In 2009, President Barack Obama chose Bisa Williams to be the United States Ambassador to Niger. The United States Senate approved her nomination. She officially started her role in Niamey, Niger, on October 29, 2010. She served as ambassador until September 13, 2013.
After her time as ambassador, Williams continued her work in diplomacy. She currently serves as the Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of African Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. In this role, she helps manage U.S. relations with countries across Africa.
