President-Elect Joseph Biden Picks Veteran Diplomat Linda Thomas-Greenfield as U.S. Ambassador to U.N. -Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield Ready To Bring Taste of ‘Gumbo Diplomacy’ to UN Gary Raynaldo
“My mother taught me to lead with the power of kindness and compassion to make the world a better place,” Thomas-Greenfield tweeted after Biden’s transition team announced her nomination. “I’ve carried that lesson with me throughout my career in Foreign Service – and, if confirmed, will do the same as Ambassador to the United Nations.”
DIPLOMATIC TIMES UNITED NATIONS – NEW YORK –
President-elect Joe Biden is nominating career diplomat Linda Thomas-Greenfield as US ambassador to the United Nation. Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield brings a resume of deep diplomatic experience and will help restore the U.S.-UN relationship that was strained after four years of President Trump’s administration which resisted multilateralism. President Trump did not hide his scorn for the UN and took a strong-arm unilateral “America First” diplomatic posture in global affairs. A long-time diplomat, Thomas-Greenfield has previously served as an ambassador to Liberia and the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs from 20132017. Thomas-Greenfield, an African American, was born in Baker, Louisiana, in the early 1950s and attended segregated schools as a child. Prior to joining the Department of State, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield taught Political Science at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania. “The People’s Ambassador” According to a statement from the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, “ISD is delighted that President-elect Joe Biden has nominated Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield to be U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and a member of the Cabinet.” ISD said Thomas-Greenfield brought a high-level of compassion to the field of foreign service: “During her time as U.S. Ambassador to Liberia, Thomas-Greenfield earned the nickname “The People’s Ambassador” for her engagement with local populations. In addition to her ambassadorship in Liberia, Thomas-Greenfield served as Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of African Affairs and as Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Human Resources. Throughout her career, she has worked to advance diversity at the State Department, a cause that she continued to advance at ISD.”
(credit: U.S. Department of State) Linda Thomas-Greenfield is a career diplomat who has previously served as an ambassador to Liberia and the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs from 2013-2017
-Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield
Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield To Bring Taste of ‘Gumbo Diplomacy’ to UN The Louisiana native who enjoys cooking is set to bring her recipe for what she calls “Gumbo Diplomacy” to global affairs at the UN. In her introductory remarks after Biden nominated her to the UN post, Thomas-Greenfield recounted how, wherever she was posted, she would invite people over to help make a roux and chop up the holy trinity for a homemade, homestyle feast:
“In my thirty-five years in the Foreign Service across the world, I put a Cajun spin on it. I call it Gumbo diplomacy. Wherever I was posted, I’d invite people of all walks then make homemade gumbo. Thats how you break down barriers, connect, and see each-other as humans.” -Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield
If confirmed, Thomas-Greenfield will be returning to the public service arena after she retired from a 35-year career with the U.S. Foreign Service in 2017. Thomas-Greenfield’s immediate predecessors were also women: Susan Rice, Samantha Power, Nikki Haley and Kelly Craft.. Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield is also a Distinguished Resident Fellow in African Affairs at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University Walsh School of Foreign Service. Thomas-Greenfield served as ambassador to Liberia under President George W. Bush and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs under President Barack Obama. Thomas-Greenfield’s 35-years of service in the U.S. Foreign Service far exceeds that of any of her recent predecesssors in the UN position. She spent more than a decade working on refugee and migration issues during her career. Thomas-Greenfield will be in a unique positon at the UN to advocate for the many African issues coming before the the Security Council.
DIPLOMATIC TIMES ISSUE O5 JANUARY - MARCH 2021 PAGE 31
Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield On Africa: “When one hears the word “Africa”, the mind jumps reflectively to headlines in the news: conflict, terrorism, crisis, famine, disease, and poverty. True – these problems exist. But they do not define Africa. And I know the audience here today knows this more than anyone. The Africa I have come to know and believe in is a continent – a continent of vast opportunity and promise. It’s a continent with tremendous natural and human resources, and a rapidly expanding middle class. It is the next frontier for global opportunities. And it is a continent that has made remarkable progress despite the challenges. When I arrived in Liberia in 1978, I found a continent that suffered from repressive governance, military coups, and violence. That was the norm for many African countries in those days. But now, we’re seeing a different picture. Liberia has emerged as a champion of democracy and peace; in 2005, it elected Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as the continent’s first female president. She has served two terms and will oversee the first transition in Liberia’s history of a sitting president to a democratically elected successor. Both Ghana and Nigeria had been under military-controlled governments. They are both, now, beacons of democracy. Looking ahead, where Africa ends up on the world stage in the next century will depend on how well the continent tackles its own challenges this century. It will also depend on how the United States and the international community partner with Africa to help achieve its promise. Africa’s youth are its single greatest resource and they are a force for good. African leaders should view them as a treasure and a source of dynamism to bring their countries out of poverty and into strong, prosperous, and successful governments. If we can ensure Africa’s youth are engaged and contributing to their countries, Africa’s economy will grow and its people will prosper.
-Assistant Secretary Linda Thomas-Greenfield’s Remarks “Africa’s Place on the World Stage” - Atlantic Council - March 09, 2017.
