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Gail D. Mathieu
Gail D Mathieu.jpg
7th United States Ambassador to Namibia
In office
November 15, 2007 – September 4, 2010
President George W. Bush
Barack Obama
Preceded by Joyce Anne Barr
Succeeded by Wanda Nesbitt
16th United States Ambassador to Niger
In office
October 3, 2002 – September 30, 2005
President George W. Bush
Preceded by Barbro A. Owens-Kirkpatrick
Succeeded by Bernadette Allen
Personal details
Born 1951
Alma mater Antioch College
Rutgers University-Newark

Gail Dennise Thomas Mathieu (born in 1951) is an important American diplomat. She used to be the United States Ambassador to Namibia and also the United States Ambassador to Niger. An ambassador is a special representative sent by one country to another. Their job is to help keep good relationships between the two countries.

About Gail Mathieu's Early Life and School

Gail Mathieu grew up in New Jersey, a state in the United States. She went to Antioch College and earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree. This is a common degree you get after finishing college. Later, she went back to New Jersey to study law at Rutgers University-Newark. There, she earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree, which is what you need to become a lawyer.

Gail Mathieu's Career Journey

Gail Mathieu started her career helping people in her home state. She worked as an assistant prosecutor in the city of Newark, New Jersey. A prosecutor is a lawyer who works for the government. They help decide if someone has broken the law. After this, she joined the United States Foreign Service. This is a group of people who work for the U.S. government in other countries. They help with diplomacy, which means working to solve problems and build friendships between nations.

Important Diplomatic Roles

Gail Mathieu held many important jobs during her time in the Foreign Service. These roles helped her gain experience before becoming an ambassador:

  • 2013–2015 – She was a Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. In this role, she focused on countries like Australia, New Zealand, and other Pacific Islands.
  • 1999–2002 – She served as the Deputy Chief of Mission in Accra, Ghana. This means she was the second-in-command at the U.S. Embassy there.
  • 1997–1999 – She was the Deputy Director of the Office of West African Affairs. This job involved helping manage U.S. relations with countries in West Africa.
  • 1995–1997 – She worked as the Deputy Director of the Office of Pacific Island Affairs. Here, she helped with U.S. dealings with islands in the Pacific Ocean.
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