Jean Elizabeth Manes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jean Elizabeth Manes
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| United States Ambassador to El Salvador | |
| In office March 30, 2016 – July 31, 2019 |
|
| President | Barack Obama Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Mari Carmen Aponte |
| Succeeded by | Ronald D. Johnson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1970 (age 54–55) |
| Alma mater | Liberty University American University |
Jean Elizabeth Manes (born 1970) is an American diplomat. A diplomat is someone who helps a country talk and work with other countries. She currently advises a top general at the United States Southern Command. This command works to keep peace and safety in Central and South America.
Manes also served as the United States Ambassador to El Salvador. An ambassador is the highest-ranking diplomat representing their country in another nation. President Barack Obama nominated her for this role in 2015. The Senate then approved her appointment.
Contents
Early Life and School
Jean Manes grew up in Pompano Beach, Florida. Her parents, Roger and Betty Manes, built a family business. She went to Highlands Christian Academy for high school. She graduated from there in 1988.
Manes then attended Liberty University. There, she played volleyball and coached the men's club volleyball team. She earned her bachelor's degree in Foreign Policy in 1992.
Her Career as a Diplomat
Manes started her career in Washington, D.C. She worked for the U.S. Information Agency from 1992 to 1999. During this time, she also studied at American University. She earned a Master's degree in Public Administration in 1996.
Later, she worked at U.S. embassies in several countries. These included Buenos Aires, Argentina, Montevideo, Uruguay, and Brasilia, Brazil. She also served in Ponta Delgada in the Azores, Portugal.
From 2012 to 2013, Manes was a Counselor for Public Affairs. This role involved sharing information about the U.S. at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. After that, she worked for the State Department in Florida.
Serving in El Salvador
In October 2015, President Barack Obama chose Manes to be the U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador. The Senate confirmed her for this job in December 2015. She served as ambassador until July 31, 2019.
On May 26, 2021, Manes was named as the Chargé d'affaires ad interim for El Salvador. This means she temporarily led the U.S. diplomatic mission there. She left this position in November 2021. She felt that the government of El Salvador was not interested in working closely with the United States.
Nominated for Colombia
On January 3, 2023, President Joe Biden nominated Manes for another important role. He chose her to be the ambassador to Colombia. However, her nomination was not approved by the Senate. It expired on January 3, 2024, and was not put forward again.
Role at UNESCO
In February 2024, Manes was appointed as Chargé d'affaires ad interim to UNESCO. UNESCO is a special agency of the United Nations. It works to promote peace and security through education, science, and culture.
