SECWAC Presents: Ambassador Stephanie S. Sullivan on “Partnership Under Pressure: Alignment, Trust, and the Practice of Diplomacy”

Description

"Partnership Under Pressure: Alignment, Trust, and the Practice of Diplomacy"

On Wednesday, May 13th SECWAC will host Ambassador Stephanie Sullivan (Retired), recently retired US representative to the African Union, who will share reflections on her 40+ years of experience representing the United States in and on Africa as well as her experience in international crisis management.

🌍Who: Ambassador Stephanie Sullivan (ret), recently retired US representative to the African Union

🌍When: Wednesday May 13, 2026 | Reception: 5:30pm | Presentation: 6:00pm

🌍Where: Flanders Fish Market

🌍 Learn more about SECWAC and this presentation here: https://secwac.org/event/secwac-presents-ambassador-stephanie-sullivan/

Stephanie S. Sullivan retired from the Foreign Service with the rank of Career Minister on December 28, 2025, after over four decades of service to the United States. She held three ambassadorial postings: to the African Union (2024-2025), Ghana (2018-2022), and the Republic of Congo (2013-2017). Ms. Sullivan’s first diplomatic tour of duty was in Cameroon (1986-88). She also served in Ghana as Political Chief (1997-2001).

Ms. Sullivan was Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of African Affairs. She served as Acting U.S. Deputy Representative to the United Nations and earlier was Deputy Chief of Operations for Africa at the Peace Corps. She was Director of the State Department Operations Center (the 24/7 alerting, briefing and crisis management center) and served at the White House Situation Room. She was also desk officer for Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. In addition, she provided management support to colleagues at U.S. Missions to International Organizations and in Europe and the Western Hemisphere.

Ms. Sullivan was a Peace Corps volunteer in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She has degrees from Brown University and the National War College, and speaks French and Lingala. She and her husband live in Massachusetts and have two sons.