Sylvia Stanfield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sylvia Gaye Stanfield
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Ambassador Sylvia Stanfield
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| United States ambassador to Brunei | |
| In office 3 November 1999 – 28 August 2002 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | October 28, 1943 Houston, Texas, United States |
| Education | Western College for Women (BA) University of Hawaiʻi (MA) |
Sylvia Gaye Stanfield, born on October 28, 1943, is an American diplomat. A diplomat is someone who represents their country in other nations. Ms. Stanfield served as the United States ambassador to Brunei. An ambassador is the highest-ranking diplomat a country sends to another. Before becoming an ambassador, she worked in many important roles in places like China, Taiwan, and New Zealand.
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Early Life and Education
Sylvia Gaye Stanfield was born in Houston, Texas, on October 28, 1943. She loved learning and went to college. In 1965, she earned a bachelor's degree (a first college degree) from the Western College for Women. Her studies focused on how different cultures interact.
Later, she continued her education at the University of Hawaiʻi. There, she earned a master's degree (a higher college degree) in Asian studies. This means she learned a lot about the history, cultures, and languages of Asian countries. She also spent time studying the Mandarin and Cantonese languages. From 1966 to 1967, she studied at the University of Hong Kong.
Her Diplomatic Career
Ms. Stanfield began her career in diplomacy in 1969. She joined the United States Department of State, which is the part of the U.S. government that handles relationships with other countries.
Early Roles Abroad
- From 1969 to 1971, she worked as a vice-consul in Taipei, Taiwan. A vice-consul helps citizens from their home country who are traveling or living abroad.
- She worked at the United States' embassy in Beijing, China, from 1979 to 1981. An embassy is like the main office for a country's diplomats in another nation.
- From 1985 to 1987, she worked at the American Institute in Taiwan. This organization handles unofficial relations between the U.S. and Taiwan.
Leadership Positions
Ms. Stanfield took on more leadership roles as her career progressed.
- From 1993 to 1995, she was the charge d’Affaires and Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. embassy in Wellington, New Zealand. This means she was the second-in-command at the embassy. Sometimes, she even led the embassy when the ambassador was away.
- She also directed important offices in Washington D.C. From 1990 to 1992, she led the Office of Australia and New Zealand Affairs. Then, from 1996 to 1998, she led the Office of Taiwan Coordination Affairs. These offices help manage the U.S.'s relationships with those specific regions.
Ambassador to Brunei
On August 9, 1999, President Bill Clinton chose Sylvia Stanfield to be the U.S. ambassador to Brunei. Brunei is a small country in Southeast Asia. She officially started her role on November 3, 1999. She served as ambassador until August 28, 2002. It was a very special appointment because she was the first black woman to serve as ambassador to Brunei.
After Her Ambassadorship
After her time as ambassador, Ms. Stanfield continued to share her knowledge. She became a Diplomat in Residence at Florida A&M University and Spelman College. In this role, she helped students learn about careers in diplomacy and international affairs. In 2014, she became the interim president of the Association of Black Professionals in International Affairs. This group supports black professionals working in global relations.
