Harriet Elam-Thomas facts for kids

Harriet Lee Elam-Thomas, born in 1941, is an American diplomat and university professor. She leads the Diplomacy Program at the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando, Florida. From 2000 to 2002, she served as the United States Ambassador to Senegal. This means she was the top U.S. representative in Senegal.

Harriet Elam-Thomas: A Diplomat's Journey

Harriet Lee Elam-Thomas has had a long and important career in diplomacy and education. She has worked for the United States government in many different countries. Her work helps connect the U.S. with other nations.

Early Career and Key Roles

Before becoming an ambassador, Ms. Elam-Thomas held several important positions. She was a Senior Foreign Service Officer. This is a high rank for someone who works for the U.S. government overseas.

She served as the U.S. Ambassador to Senegal from 1999 to 2002. She was also the Acting Deputy Director of the U.S. Information Agency. This agency shared information about the U.S. with people around the world.

Her other roles included Public Affairs Counselor at the American Embassy in Brussels, Belgium. She was also a Cultural Attaché in Athens, Greece. This role involves promoting cultural understanding between countries. She also directed the American Press and Cultural Center in Istanbul, Turkey.

Connecting Diplomacy with Education

After her time as an ambassador, Ms. Elam-Thomas became a Diplomat-in-Residence at UCF. This was part of a special program by the U.S. Department of State. She worked as the official link for the State Department in Central Florida.

In this role, she helped students learn about careers in diplomacy. She also shared information about internships and scholarships. She gave talks on important policy matters. At UCF, she helps create global programs for students and professionals. These programs focus on education and training in international relations.

Awards and Achievements

Harriet Elam-Thomas has received many awards for her excellent work. One of the highest honors she received is The Director General’s Cup for the United States Foreign Service. She also earned the U.S. Government’s Superior Honor Award. Another award was the Meritorious Honor Award for her work during the first Persian Gulf War.

She studied at Simmons College (Massachusetts), earning a degree in International Business. She also earned a master's degree in Public Diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. She has also received four honorary doctorates.

Current Activities and Contributions

From 2003 to 2006, she was part of the Senior Advisory Group for the United States European Command. This group advises military leaders.

Since 2023, Ambassador Elam-Thomas has been a Global Advisor for the ACE Global Leaders of Excellence Network. This group connects leaders from around the world. They share knowledge and resources to help develop international leadership.

She is also a member of the American Academy of Diplomacy. She serves on the board of the Cultural Academy for Excellence. She is also on the board of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and the Institute for International Education. Besides English, she can speak French, Greek, and Turkish.