Harriet Elam-Thomas
Encyclopedia
Harriet Elam-Thomas is a United States
diplomat
and university professor
who directs the Diplomacy Program
at the University of Central Florida
(UCF) in Orlando, Florida
. From 1999–2002, Thomas served as the United States Ambassador to Senegal
.
, conducting workshops, providing information on careers, connecting students to internship and scholarship opportunities, and speaking on policy matters. In her capacity at UCF, Thomas is shaping a global initiative with education and training for both students and professionals.
Until the fall of 2005, she was a Senior Foreign Service Officer
with the rank of Career Minister. Previously, she served as the U.S. Ambassador to Senegal
(from 1999–2002); Acting Deputy Director of the U.S. Information Agency; Public Affairs Counselor at the American Embassy in Brussels
, Belgium
; Cultural Attaché
at the American Embassy in Athens
, Greece
; Director of the American Press and Cultural Center in Istanbul
, Turkey
.
Her numerous awards include The Director General’s Cup for the Foreign Service
(the most prestigious honor for former foreign service officers), the U.S. Government’s Superior Honor Award
and a Meritorious Honor Award
for her work in connection with the first Persian Gulf War
. She holds a B.S. in International Business
from Simmons College (Massachusetts)
and an M.A.
in Public Diplomacy
from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University
, as well as four honorary doctorates.
From 2003-2006, she served on the Senior Advisory Group of the United States European Command
, which was then headed by General James Jones.
A member of the American Academy of Diplomacy
, she currently is on the board of the Cultural Academy for Excellence, the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra
and the Institute for International Education. In addition to English, she speaks French, Greek and Turkish.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
and university professor
Professors in the United States
In the U.S., "Professors" commonly occupy any of several positions in academia, typically the ranks of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor or Full Professor....
who directs the Diplomacy Program
University of Central Florida College of Sciences
The UCF College of Sciences is the largest academic college of the University of Central Florida located in Orlando, Florida, USA. The dean of the college is Michael Johnson, Ph.D....
at the University of Central Florida
University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida, commonly referred to as UCF, is a metropolitan public research university located in Orlando, Florida, United States...
(UCF) in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
. From 1999–2002, Thomas served as the United States Ambassador to Senegal
United States Ambassador to Senegal
The United States Ambassador to Senegal is the official representative of the President of the United States to the head of state of Senegal. The ambassador is concurrently the ambassador to Guinea-Bissau, while resident in Dakar, Senegal....
.
Life and career
From 2003-2005, she served as Diplomat-in-Residence at UCF under the auspices of a national U.S. Department of State program. She was the U.S. Department of State’s official liaison in Central FloridaCentral Florida
Central Florida is a regional designation for the area surrounding Orlando in east central Florida, United States. The area represents the third largest population concentration in Florida, after the South Florida and Tampa Bay regions, respectively....
, conducting workshops, providing information on careers, connecting students to internship and scholarship opportunities, and speaking on policy matters. In her capacity at UCF, Thomas is shaping a global initiative with education and training for both students and professionals.
Until the fall of 2005, she was a Senior Foreign Service Officer
Foreign Service Officer
A Foreign Service Officer is a commissioned member of the United States Foreign Service. As diplomats, Foreign Service Officers formulate and implement the foreign policy of the United States. FSOs spend most of their careers overseas as members of U.S. embassies, consulates, and other diplomatic...
with the rank of Career Minister. Previously, she served as the U.S. Ambassador to Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
(from 1999–2002); Acting Deputy Director of the U.S. Information Agency; Public Affairs Counselor at the American Embassy in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
; Cultural Attaché
Cultural attaché
A cultural attaché is a diplomat with special responsibility for promoting the culture of his or her homeland. The position has been used as an official cover for intelligence agents. Historically, the post has often been filled by writers and artists, giving them a steady income, allowing them to...
at the American Embassy in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
; Director of the American Press and Cultural Center in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
.
Her numerous awards include The Director General’s Cup for the Foreign Service
United States Foreign Service
The United States Foreign Service is a component of the United States federal government under the aegis of the United States Department of State. It consists of approximately 11,500 professionals carrying out the foreign policy of the United States and aiding U.S...
(the most prestigious honor for former foreign service officers), the U.S. Government’s Superior Honor Award
Superior Honor Award
The Superior Honor Award is an award of the United States Department of State. Similar versions of the same award exist for the former U.S. Information Agency, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, and USAID...
and a Meritorious Honor Award
Meritorious Honor Award
The Meritorious Honor Award is an award of the United States Department of State. Similar versions of the same award exist for the former U.S. Information Agency, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, and USAID...
for her work in connection with the first Persian Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
. She holds a B.S. in International Business
International Business
International business is a term used to collectively describe all commercial transactions that take place between two or more regions, countries and nations beyond their political boundary...
from Simmons College (Massachusetts)
Simmons College (Massachusetts)
Simmons College, established in 1899, is a private women's undergraduate college and private co-educational graduate school in Boston, Massachusetts.-History:Simmons was founded in 1899 with a bequest by John Simmons a wealthy clothing manufacturer in Boston...
and an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in Public Diplomacy
Public diplomacy
In international relations, public diplomacy or people's diplomacy, broadly speaking, is the communication with foreign publics to establish a dialogue designed to inform and influence. There is no one definition of Public Diplomacy, and may be easier described than easily defined as definitions...
from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
, as well as four honorary doctorates.
From 2003-2006, she served on the Senior Advisory Group of the United States European Command
United States European Command
The United States European Command is one of ten Unified Combatant Commands of the United States military, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. Its area of focus covers and 51 countries and territories, including Europe, Russia, Iceland, Greenland, and Israel...
, which was then headed by General James Jones.
A member of the American Academy of Diplomacy
American Academy of Diplomacy
The American Academy of Diplomacy is a private, non-profit, non-partisan, elected organization whose active membership is limited to men and women who have held positions of high responsibility in crafting and implementing American foreign policy...
, she currently is on the board of the Cultural Academy for Excellence, the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra
Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra
The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra is one of Orlando's three unrelated per-service professional orchestras, the others being the Orlando Symphony Orchestra and the Bach Festival Society in residence at Rollins College. The OPO is based in Symphony Square at Loch Haven Park in Orlando, Florida, and...
and the Institute for International Education. In addition to English, she speaks French, Greek and Turkish.