Jean Elizabeth Manes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jean Elizabeth Manes
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| United States Ambassador to El Salvador | |
| In office March 30, 2016 – July 31, 2019 |
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| 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 represents their country in other nations. She currently works as a special advisor for foreign policy to General Laura J. Richardson. General Richardson leads the United States Southern Command, which works with countries in Central and South America.
Jean Manes also served as the United States Ambassador to El Salvador. An ambassador is the highest-ranking diplomat representing their country. President Barack Obama chose her for this role in 2015. The U.S. Senate then approved her appointment.
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Early life and education
Jean Manes grew up in Pompano Beach, Florida. Her parents, Roger and Betty Manes, owned a family business. She went to Highlands Christian Academy for high school, graduating in 1988.
For college, she attended Liberty University. There, she played volleyball and also coached the men's club volleyball team. She earned her bachelor's degree in Foreign Policy in 1992. Later, she continued her studies at American University. She received a Master's degree in Public Administration in 1996.
Career
Jean Manes started her career in Washington, D.C. She had an internship with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. This committee helps decide how the U.S. interacts with other countries. From 1992 to 1999, she worked for the U.S. Information Agency.
After that, she joined the Foreign Service. This means she worked for the U.S. government in different countries. She had assignments at U.S. embassies in several places:
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Montevideo, Uruguay
- Ponta Delgada-Azores, Portugal
- Brasilia, Brazil
From 2012 to 2013, Manes was a Counselor for Public Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. In this role, she helped share information about the U.S. with the people of Afghanistan. After that, she worked briefly in Ft. Lauderdale. She was a deputy director for a State Department center there. She also served as a main deputy coordinator for a group that shares international information.
Serving in El Salvador
In October 2015, President Barack Obama nominated Jean Manes to be the U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador. The Senate confirmed her in December 2015. She served as ambassador until July 31, 2019.
On May 26, 2021, she was named the temporary leader of the U.S. Embassy in El Salvador. This role is called Chargé d'affaires ad interim. She left this position in November 2021. She felt that the government of El Salvador was not interested in having good relations with the United States.
Nomination for Colombia
On January 3, 2023, President Joe Biden nominated Manes 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.
Working with UNESCO
In February 2024, Jean Manes was appointed as the temporary leader for the U.S. at UNESCO. UNESCO is a special agency of the United Nations. It works to promote peace and security through education, science, and culture.
See also
In Spanish: Jean Elizabeth Manes para niños
