Service with the U.S. Department of State currently serving as Senior Advisor on Africa in the office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate. She has held diplomatic assignments in Nigeria, Ethiopia (also covering Djibouti and Eritrea), and Mozambique, and has twice served in South Africa, including as Principal Officer and Consul General in Durban.
She has served in Washington D.C in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs leading U.S. representation to ocean pollution conventions, in combatting wildlife trafficking, and as Deputy Director of the Office of Conservation and Water. Prior to joining State, she served as a private sector development advisor to USAID Tanzania and held numerous senior leadership positions in local government and civic organizations in California. She holds BA degrees from Stanford University in International Relations and African and Afro-American Studies and an MPA from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. She speaks Kiswahili and Portuguese, and is a proud mother of four and grandmother to four.
