Stephanie S. Sullivan

{{Short description|American diplomat (born 1958)}}

{{About||the official of the U.S. intelligence agencies|Stephanie O'Sullivan}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Stephanie Sullivan

| image = Stephanie S. Sullivan, U.S. Ambassador.jpg

| caption =

| office = United States Ambassador to the African Union

| term_start = August 29, 2024{{Cite web | url=https://www.facebook.com/share/p/CkWvek8M3dE6SSHq/?mibextid=qi2Omg | title=Message from U.S. Mission to the African Union | date=2024-08-29 | website=www.facebook.com}}

| term_end =

| president = Joe Biden
Donald Trump

| predecessor = Jessica Lapenn

| office1 = United States Ambassador to Ghana

| president1 = Donald Trump
Joe Biden

| term_start1 = January 23, 2019

| term_end1 = April 8, 2022

| predecessor1 = Robert P. Jackson

| successor1 = Virginia Palmer

| office2 = Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs

| president2 = Donald Trump

| term_start2 = January 2017{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/218514.htm|title=Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs|access-date=March 30, 2018}}

| term_end2 = October 2018

| successor2 = Geeta Pasi

| office3 = United States Ambassador to the Republic of the Congo

| president3 = Barack Obama

| term_start3 = November 26, 2013

| term_end3 = January 20, 2017

| predecessor3 = Christopher Murray

| successor3 = Todd Haskell

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|9|27}}

| birth_place = United States

| death_date =

| death_place =

| spouse = John Sullivan

| children = 2

| alma_mater = Brown University
National Defense University

}}

Stephanie Sanders Sullivan ({{nee|Sanders}}; born September 27, 1958) is an American diplomat and the previous ambassador to Ghana. She served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Central African Affairs and Security Affairs for the Bureau of African Affairs from January 2017 to November 2018. She previously served as United States Ambassador to the Republic of the Congo, having been nominated by President Obama on June 13, 2013, confirmed by the Senate on August 1, 2013, and served through January 20, 2017.[http://brazzaville.usembassy.gov/ambassador.html Stephanie S. Sullivan- Ambassador to the Republic of Congo] Embassy of the United States, Republic of the Congo, accessed March 6, 2016{{Cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/218514.htm|title=Sullivan, Stephanie S.|website=U.S. Department of State}}

As of August 29, 2024, Sullivan is the US Representative to the African Union.{{cite web |title=President Biden Announces Key Nominees |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/06/15/president-biden-announces-key-nominees-20/ |website=The White House |access-date=2 December 2022 |date=15 June 2022}}{{Cite web |title=Ambassador Stephanie S. Sullivan |url=https://www.usau.usmission.gov/our-relationship/ambassador-stephanie-s-sullivan/ |access-date=August 1, 2024 |website=U.S. Mission to The African Union}}

Early life and education

Sullivan was born Stephanie Sanders, daughter of Dr. John E. Sanders, a geologist who taught at Yale University[https://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/23/nyregion/john-e-sanders-73-geologist-and-professor.html John E. Sanders, 73, Geologist and Professor] The New York Times, Oct 23, 1990 and Barnard College and his wife, Barbara Wood Sanders, an art teacher. Sullivan attended the Hackley School.[https://www.nytimes.com/1985/06/30/style/john-h-sullivan-wed-to-stephanie-sanders.html John H. Sullivan Wed To Stephanie Sanders] The New York Times, June 30, 1985 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.[http://www.brownbears.com/exceptional_bears/hallfame/Bios/sullivan_stephanie_sanders Stephanie Sanders] Brown University Athletics, accessed March 6, 2016

Sullivan later received an M.S. in security strategy from the National Defense University at the National War College.[https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/06/12/president-obama-announces-more-key-administration-posts President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts] The White House, June 12, 2013[http://www.afsa.org/sites/default/files/Portals/0/certcomp_congo_brazzaville.pdf Ambassadorial Nomination] U.S. Department of State, March 6, 2014

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.[https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/218514.htm Stephanie Sullivan U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville)] U.S. Department of State, accessed March 6, 2016

=Ambassador to Ghana=

Sullivan was nominated to be the next ambassador to Ghana by President Donald Trump on July 9, 2018, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on September 6, 2018.{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/115th-congress/2238 |title=PN2238 — Stephanie Sanders Sullivan — Department of State |website=U.S. Congress |date=6 September 2018 |access-date=September 7, 2018}} She presented her credentials to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on January 23, 2019.{{cite web |url=https://gh.usembassy.gov/ambassador-stephanie-s-sullivan-presents-credentials-to-president-nana-addo-dankwa-akufo-addo/ |title=Ambassador Stephanie S. Sullivan Presents Credentials to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo |website=U.S. Embassy in Ghana |date=23 January 2019 |access-date=January 28, 2019}}

=Representative to the African Union=

On June 15, 2022, President Joe Biden nominated Sullivan to be the next US Representative to the African Union. Hearings on her nomination were held before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on November 29, 2022. The committee favorably reported her nomination on December 7, 2022. Her nomination was not further acted upon for the rest of the year and was returned to Biden on January 3, 2023.{{cite web |title=PN2259 — Stephanie Sanders Sullivan — Department of State 117th Congress (2021-2022) |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/2259?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22stephanie%22%2C%22stephanie%22%5D%7D&s=1&r=1 |website=US Congress |access-date=2 December 2022}} President Biden renominated her the same day and her nomination was favorably reported out of committee on March 8, 2023, but it was once again returned to Biden on January 3, 2024.{{cite web |title=PN59 — Stephanie Sanders Sullivan — Department of State 118th Congress (2023-2024) |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/118th-congress/59?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22sullivan%22%5D%7D&s=1&r=2 |website=US Congress |access-date=29 April 2023}} President Biden renominated her on January 11, 2024. Her nomination was favorably reported out of committee a third time on April 17, 2024, and was confirmed by the full Senate on June 20, 2024, by a 45–26 vote.{{cite web |title=PN1343 — Stephanie Sanders Sullivan — Department of State 118th Congress (2023-2024) |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/118th-congress/1343 |website=US Congress |date=20 June 2024 |access-date=21 June 2024}} She sworn on July 12, 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://x.com/USAmbUN/status/1811868289993441684?t=Z-xBNZvZrQImca2zLhosXw&s=19|title=x.com}} She arrived in Addis Ababa on August 8, 2024.{{Cite web | url=https://www.facebook.com/share/p/QjziRiP9iAmXMQPo/?mibextid=oFDknk | title=Message from U.S. Mission to the African Union | website=www.facebook.com | date=2024-08-08}} She presented her credentials Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki on August 29, 2024.

Personal life

Sullivan and her husband, John, have two sons.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BpXVhYNmHM Introducing Stephanie Sullivan, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Congo] YouTube, Nov 26, 2013 In addition to English, she speaks French, Spanish and Lingala.

References