Sharon P. Wilkinson facts for kids

Sharon P. Wilkinson (born 1947) is an American diplomat. A diplomat is someone who represents their country in other nations. She worked as the United States Ambassador to Burkina Faso from 1996 to 1999. Later, she served as the United States Ambassador to Mozambique from 2000 to 2003.

Early Life and Education

Sharon Wilkinson was born in New York City in 1947. She loved learning about different countries and how they interact. She went to Brown University and earned a degree in International Relations. This field of study focuses on how countries work together. She also earned a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Chicago.

Starting a Diplomatic Career

Sharon Wilkinson began her career in the Foreign Service. The Foreign Service is a group of people who work for their country's government overseas. They help with things like trade, travel, and keeping peace.

First Roles Abroad

• Her first job was as a vice consul in Sao Paulo, Brazil. A consul helps citizens from their home country who are traveling or living abroad.
• Later, she became a consul in Accra, Ghana. In this role, she continued to assist American citizens.

Working in Washington, D.C.

Sharon Wilkinson also worked in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States.

• She was a program officer for Africa in the Bureau of Cultural Affairs. This meant she helped manage programs related to culture in African countries.
• She also worked as a staff assistant for the assistant secretary for Inter-American Affairs. This role involved helping with relations between the U.S. and countries in North and South America.

More International Experience

Her career took her to many different places around the world.

• She worked in Lisbon, Portugal.
• She also served as a management analyst for the Office of Management Operations. This job involved looking at how things were run and suggesting improvements.

Key Diplomatic Assignments

Sharon Wilkinson took on many important roles throughout her career. Each role helped her gain more experience in international relations.

Special Programs and Leadership

• She spent a year as the director of the Face-To-Face Program. This program was at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. It likely involved bringing people together to discuss peace.
• She was assigned as the deputy principal officer in Tijuana, Mexico. This meant she was a senior leader in the U.S. office there.

Leading Consular Affairs

• She directed the Office of Diplomatic and Public Liaison in Washington. This office helps connect diplomats with the public.
• After that, she became the consul general in Curaçao. This is a top consular position in a specific region.

Return to Portugal

• She went back to Lisbon, Portugal, for another assignment.
• There, she served as chargée d'affaires. This means she was in charge of the embassy when the ambassador was not there.
• She finished her time in Lisbon as the deputy chief of mission. This is the second-highest position in an embassy.

Becoming an Ambassador

An ambassador is the highest-ranking diplomat representing their country in another nation.

Ambassador to Burkina Faso

• In 1995, President Bill Clinton chose Sharon Wilkinson to be the U.S. ambassador to Burkina Faso. Burkina Faso is a country in West Africa.
• She served in this important role from 1996 to 1999.

Ambassador to Mozambique

• In 2000, President Clinton nominated her again. This time, she became the ambassador to Mozambique. Mozambique is a country in Southeast Africa.
• She served as ambassador there from 2000 to 2003.

Later Career and Skills

After her time as an ambassador, Sharon Wilkinson continued to contribute to education.

• She was the Assistant Dean for Global Engagement at Arizona State University. This role likely involved helping students and faculty connect with international opportunities.
• She is very skilled in languages. She speaks Portuguese, Spanish, and French.
• She is a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service. This means she reached a very high level in her diplomatic career.

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Department of State (U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets).