Jessica Lapenn

{{short description|American diplomat}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Jessica Lapenn

|image = Jessica E. Lapenn official photo (cropped).jpg

|nickname = Jessye

|office = United States Ambassador to the African Union and U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa

|president = Donald Trump
Joe Biden

|term_start = October 14, 2019

|term_end = February 1, 2023{{cite tweet |author=US Mission to the AU |user=US_AU |number=1620676830998196228 |date=February 1, 2023 |title=.@US_AU bids farewell to Amb. Lapenn, who led our Mission for three years. During her tenure, she strengthened our relationship with the @_AfricanUnion & provided unmatched direction & vision for our team. We are thankful for her service & leadership. Best wishes, Amb. Lapenn! https://t.co/JtFWUvubgX |language=en |access-date=February 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210115509/https://twitter.com/US_AU/status/1620676830998196228 |archive-date=February 10, 2023 |url-status=live}}

|predecessor = Mary Beth Leonard

|successor = Stephanie S. Sullivan

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|birth_name = Jessica Erin Lapenn{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/115th-congress/2622/1 |title=PN2622-1 — Foreign Service |date=January 2, 2019 |website=U.S. Congress |accessdate=January 22, 2021}}

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|alma_mater = Harvard College (BA)
Cambridge University

}}

Jessica "Jessye" Lapenn is an American career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor,{{cite web |title=Lapenn Jessica E – African Union – May 2019 CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY |url=https://www.state.gov/lapenn-jessica-e-african-union-may-2019/ |website=US Department of State |accessdate=February 24, 2020}} who was sworn in as the U.S. Ambassador to the African Union and the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa on August 27, 2019. Immediately prior, Lapenn served as the Chargé d'Affaires at U.S. Mission in South Africa from 2016 to 2019.{{cite web |title=Ambassador Jessye Lapenn |url=https://www.usau.usmission.gov/our-relationship/our-ambassador/ |website=U.S. Mission to The African Union |accessdate=February 24, 2020 |archive-date=November 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125080818/https://www.usau.usmission.gov/our-relationship/our-ambassador/ |url-status=dead }}

Born and raised in New York City, Lapenn earned a BA in Women's Studies from Harvard College and an MPhil in International Development from Cambridge University.

{{commons category|Jessye Lapenn}}