Makila James facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Makila James
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in 2022
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| United States Ambassador to Swaziland | |
| In office August 27, 2012 – February 5, 2016 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Earl M. Irving |
| Succeeded by | Lisa J. Peterson |
| Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Africa and the Sudans | |
| In office September 2018 – 2020 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | July 1957 |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | Louis Wells |
| Children | 1 |
| Profession | Foreign service officer |
Makila James (born in July 1957) is an American diplomat. She has worked for the U.S. State Department as a career Foreign Service Officer since 1988. Her job involves representing the United States in other countries.
Over the years, she has held many important roles. These roles often focused on the Caribbean and Africa. From 2009 to 2012, she was the Director of Caribbean Affairs. Later, she served as the United States Ambassador to Swaziland from 2012 to 2016. She also worked as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Africa and the Sudans from 2018 to 2020.
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Early Life and Education
Makila James was born in July 1957 in New York. She was one of ten children.
She went to Cornell University. In 1979, she earned a bachelor's degree. She studied Africana Studies and American History. At Cornell, she was part of a special group called the Quill and Dagger society. She has said that her studies and involvement with the Cornell Africana Studies and Research Center greatly influenced her career path. She wanted to be a leader from the start.
After Cornell, she attended Columbia University Law School. She earned her law degree in 1982.
Makila James is married to Louis Wells. They have one child.
Career as a Diplomat
Makila James began her career as a diplomat in 1988. She worked for the U.S. State Department. Most of her jobs were in areas dealing with the Western Hemisphere (like the Caribbean) and Africa.
Her first jobs overseas included:
- Working as a consular officer in Jamaica. A consular officer helps U.S. citizens abroad.
- Serving as a political and economics officer in Nigeria. This involved understanding the country's government and economy.
- Being a political officer in Zimbabwe.
She also held roles in Washington D.C. She was a desk officer for West African affairs. She worked on international organizations. She also served as a watch officer at the State Department's Operations Center. This center monitors world events.
James once wrote about her experiences in Africa. She said, "Africa is no easy place to love or know. But if you love her, you will come to know her." She found it inspiring to see people's strong will to survive and be free there.
From 2003 to 2006, she was part of the State Department's Policy Planning Staff. This group helps shape U.S. foreign policy. She also served as the main officer for the U.S. consulate in Juba, South Sudan, from 2006 to 2007.
Before becoming an ambassador, she was the Deputy Director for Southern African Affairs. Then, she led the Office of Caribbean Affairs until 2012.
U.S. Ambassador to Swaziland
In 2012, President Barack Obama chose Makila James to be the U.S. Ambassador to Swaziland. Swaziland is now known as Eswatini. The U.S. Senate approved her nomination. She officially became ambassador on August 27, 2012.
As ambassador, one of her main goals was to help protect women and girls in Swaziland. This was especially important because of health challenges in the country. Her efforts were part of a larger U.S. program called PEPFAR. This program aims to improve health care and services.
In 2014, a human rights lawyer and a journalist were jailed in Swaziland. This drew attention to the country's lack of political freedoms. Ambassador James attended their court hearings. She stated that she was there to show support. She also questioned what happens when no one can challenge the actions of the justice system. Her actions were seen by some as unusual for a diplomat. However, the U.S. State Department supported her.
Her time as ambassador ended in early 2016.
Later Career Roles
After her time as ambassador, Makila James joined the National War College. She was an assistant professor there until 2018.
Deputy Assistant Secretary
In September 2018, James became the Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Africa and the Sudans. This role is part of the State Department's Bureau of African Affairs.
In this job, she traveled to Khartoum, Sudan, in 2019. This was after a change in government there. She urged the new leaders to listen to the people of Sudan. She asked for a government that respects human rights. After a violent event in June 2019, James warned that the U.S. might impose sanctions. Sanctions are penalties used to pressure a country. She held this position until 2020.
Currently, Makila James is a senior advisor at the Africa Center. This center is part of the United States Institute of Peace. She also teaches at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
See also
- Ambassadors of the United States
