Christine A. Elder
{{short description|American diplomat}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Christine Elder
|image = Christine Elder 2016.jpg
|office = United States Ambassador to Liberia
|president = {{Ubl | Barack Obama | Donald Trump }}
|term_start = June 23, 2016
|term_end = March 21, 2020
|predecessor = Mark Boulware (acting)
|successor = Michael A. McCarthy
|birth_date =
|birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|alma_mater = University of Kentucky
George Washington University
}}
Christine Ann Elder is an American diplomat who served as the United States ambassador to Liberia from June 2016 to March 2020.
Early life and education
Elder is a native of Glasgow, Kentucky, the daughter of Allen and Diane Elder.[https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/2016/04/28/senate-section/article/S2555-1 EXECUTIVE REPORTS OF COMMITTEES] Congressional Record, April 28, 2016 She is a graduate of Glasgow High School{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}} and received a B.A. from the University of Kentucky and an M.A. from The George Washington University.[https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2016/02/12/president-obama-announces-more-key-administration-posts President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts] The White House, February 12, 2016
Career
Elder's career has spanned both civil and foreign service. She served as a Trade Policy Assistant with the International Trade Administration at the United States Department of Commerce before joining the United States Department of State. Her early assignments included ones in Germany and Hungary. She served as Senior Watch Officer in the State Department's Operations Center from 2005 to 2006, and as deputy director for Regional Affairs in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs from 2006 to 2007. Between 2007 and 2010, she held roles as Strategic Planning Officer in the Bureau of International Programs and Acting Deputy Coordinator for International Information Programs.
Elder served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Maputo, Mozambique from 2010 to 2013.[https://africaindex.co/2016/03/09/christine-ann-elder-nomination-for-ambassador-to-liberia/ CHRISTINE ANN ELDER NOMINATION FOR AMBASSADOR TO LIBERIA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623180840/https://africaindex.co/2016/03/09/christine-ann-elder-nomination-for-ambassador-to-liberia/ |date=2016-06-23 }} Africa Index, March 9, 2016
When Elder was tapped by President Obama to become ambassador, she was the Director of the Office of Southern African Affairs at the Bureau of African Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, a position she had held since 2013.
Ambassador to Liberia
Elder was nominated by President Barack Obama on February 12, 2016, and was confirmed by the Senate on May 17, 2016.[https://www.carrollpublishing.com/whoentry.aspx?entry_number=122770 Christine Elder confirmed as U.S. Ambassador to Liberia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170115154337/https://www.carrollpublishing.com/whoentry.aspx?entry_number=122770 |date=2017-01-15 }} Carroll Publishing, accessed May 21, 2016[http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/nominations Recently Updated Nominations] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506131538/http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/nominations |date=2016-05-06 }} The New York Times, April 28, 2016 She was sworn in on June 20, 2016[https://lr.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/our-ambassador/ U.S. Ambassador to Liberia: Christine Elder] and she presented her credentials to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on June 23, 2016.[https://lr.usembassy.gov/u-s-ambassador-liberia-christine-elder-presents-credentials-president-ellen-johnson-sirleaf/ "U.S. Ambassador to Liberia Christine Elder Presents Credentials to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf", U.S. Embassy in Liberia, June 25, 2016] She left her post on March 21, 2020.{{Cite web |title=Christine Elder - People - Department History - Office of the Historian |url=https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/elder-christine |access-date=2020-12-08 |website=history.state.gov}}
US Consul General to New South Wales and Queensland
In March 2022, Christine Elder assumed the role of U.S. Consul General to New South Wales and Queensland. A key accomplishment during her tenure was the establishment of the U.S. Consulate in North Sydney.{{cite web |last1=US Consulate |title=Introducing United States Consul General Christine Elder |url=https://x.com/USConGenSydney/status/1503841033981165572 |access-date=13 October 2024}}
Under her supervision, the U.S. Consular offices in North Sydney were successfully opened, expanding services to the public and providing a more accessible platform for fostering stronger ties between Australia and the United States."{{cite web |last1=US Consulate |title=Introducing United States Consul General Christine Elder - Facebook |website=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=348853167290443 |access-date=13 October 2024 |language=en}}
Personal
Elder is married to Paul Hughes, a former Foreign Service Officer, and has two step-children.[http://www.foreign.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/031016_Elder_Testimony.pdf Elder Testimony] U.S. Senate, March 10, 2016
References
{{Reflist}}
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{{s-bef|before=Mark Boulware
Acting}}
{{s-ttl|title=United States Ambassador to Liberia|years=2016–2020}}
{{s-aft|after=Michael A. McCarthy}}
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{{US Ambassadors to Liberia}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Elder, Christine Ann}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:21st-century American diplomats
Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Liberia
Category:American women ambassadors
Category:George Washington University alumni
Category:Women in Kentucky politics
Category:Obama administration personnel
Category:Diplomats from Chicago
Category:United States Foreign Service personnel