Stephanie S. Sullivan

Stephanie Sullivan
United States Ambassador to the Republic of the Congo
Incumbent
Assumed office November 26, 2013
President	Barack Obama
Preceded by	Christopher Murray
Personal details
Born	September 27, 1958
Spouse(s)	John Sullivan
Alma mater	Brown University National Defense University

Stephanie Sanders Sullivan is a diplomat and United States Ambassador to the Republic of the Congo. She was nominated by President Obama on June 13, 2013 and confirmed by the Senate August 1, 2013. ^[1]She presented her credentials on November 26, 2013.

Early life and education

Sullivan was born Stephanie Sanders, daughter of Dr. John E. Sanders, a geologist who taught at Yale University^[2] and Barnard College and his wife, Barbara Wood Sanders, an art teacher. Sullivan attended the Hackley School. ^[3] As an undergraduate, Sullivan attended Brown University, where she majored in English language and literature and received the Francis Driscoll Premium Award from the Classics Department. She also excelled as a collegiate athlete. She played soccer and lacrosse all four years, and made All-Ivy teams in ice hockey, lacrosse and soccer. She graduated with a B.A. in 1980.^[4]

Sullivan later received an M.S. in security strategy from the National Defense University at the National War College.^[5][6]

Career

Sullivan began her career with service in The Peace Corps, working in the Democratic Republic of Congo (then Zaire) from 1980 to 1983, teaching English in Mbanza Mboma. It was in the Peace Corps that she met her husband, John Sullivan, who was serving as a volunteer in Zaire.

When she embarked on a career as a U.S. diplomat, Sullivan returned to Africa, serving as a consular and political officer in Cameroon from 1986 to 1988. In 1988 she began the first of several tours with the Executive Secretariat Operations Center. Other assignments included serving as Chief of Operations for the Africa Region of Peace Corps from 1994 to 96, as well as a role as Political Chief at the U.S. Embassy in Ghana. Just before accepting the role as Ambassador, she served two years as Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources.^[7]

Personal

Sullivan and her husband, John, have two sons. ^[8] In addition to English, she speaks French, Spanish and Lingala.

References

1. Stephanie S. Sullivan- Ambassador to the Republic of Congo Embassy of the United States, Republic of the Congo, accessed March 6, 2016
2. John E. Sanders, 73, Geologist and Professor The New York Times, Oct 23, 1990
3. John H. Sullivan Wed To Stephanie Sanders The New York Times, June 30, 1985
4. Stephanie Sanders Brown University Athletics, accessed March 6, 2016
5. President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts The White House, June 12, 2013
6. Ambassadorial Nomination U.S. Department of State, March 6, 2014
7. Stephanie Sullivan U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville) U.S. Department of State, accessed March 6, 2016
8. Introducing Stephanie Sullivan, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of CongoYou Tube, Nov 26, 2013