Maurice Darrow Bean facts for kids

Maurice Darrow Bean (born September 9, 1928 – died November 30, 2009) was an important American diplomat. He came from California and served his country in many ways. One of his most important roles was being the United States Ambassador to Burma (now called Myanmar) from September 1977 to August 1979. Before becoming an ambassador, he spent 15 years working for the Peace Corps, which is a group that helps people in other countries. He even worked as an Operations Director for the Peace Corps in the Philippines.

Maurice Bean's Early Life and Learning

Maurice Bean was born in 1928. He grew up and went to college to learn about how governments work and how to help people. His education prepared him for a long career in public service.

Education and College Years

Maurice Bean was a dedicated student. He graduated from Howard University in 1950 with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in government. This means he studied how governments are organized and how they make decisions.

After that, he joined the Foreign Service in 1951. The Foreign Service is a group of people who work for the U.S. government in other countries. They help with diplomacy and international relations.

He continued his studies at Haverford College, where he earned a master's degree in social and technical assistance in 1954. This degree focused on how to help communities develop and solve problems. In 1959, he earned another special certificate from 7Johns Hopkins University in Advanced International Studies, which taught him even more about global affairs.

A Career of Service

Maurice Bean dedicated his life to serving the United States and helping people around the world. His career showed his commitment to making a positive difference.

Helping Others with the Peace Corps

One of the biggest parts of Maurice Bean's career was his 15 years with the Peace Corps. The Peace Corps is a U.S. government program where American volunteers go to other countries to help with education, health, agriculture, and community development. It's all about building friendships and understanding between different cultures.

During his time with the Peace Corps, Maurice Bean held important leadership roles. He even served as the Operations Director in the Philippines. This meant he helped manage the Peace Corps' activities and projects in that country, making sure volunteers could do their best work.

Becoming an Ambassador

After his long service with the Peace Corps, Maurice Bean was chosen to be an ambassador. An ambassador is a country's top representative in another country. Their job is to build good relationships, discuss important issues, and protect their country's interests.

Serving in Burma

Maurice Bean served as the United States Ambassador to Burma from September 1977 to August 1979. Burma is a country in Southeast Asia, now officially known as Myanmar. As ambassador, he worked to strengthen the ties between the United States and Burma, representing American values and policies. This was a very important role, showing his dedication to international diplomacy.

A Life of Dedication

Maurice Darrow Bean's life was an example of public service and dedication. From his early education to his work with the Peace Corps and his time as an ambassador, he worked to improve relations between countries and help people around the world. He passed away on November 30, 2009, leaving behind a legacy of commitment to global understanding.