Ambassador Nancy J. Powell, a 1970 B.A. degree graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, has been nominated by President Barack Obama as Director General of the Foreign Service, Department of State. The appointment is subject to approval of the U.S. Senate.
Powell, the U.S. Ambassador to Nepal since 2007 – her formal title is Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Nepal – is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service Class of Career Minister. Born in Cedar Falls and raised in LeMars, Powell majored in history-teaching at UNI, graduating in 1970. She taught high school social studies in Dayton for six and one-half years before joining the Foreign Service, Department of State in 1977.
She was U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan (2002-2004), Ghana (2001-2002) and Uganda (1997-1999). Previous overseas assignments have included Ottawa, Kathmandu, Islamabad, Lome, Calcutta, New Delhi and Dhaka. In Washington, she has served as a Refugee Assistance Officer, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Acting Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Activities, Senior Coordinator for Avian Influenza and the National Intelligence Officer for South Asia at the National Intelligence Council.
Powell has studied French, Nepali, Hindi and Urdu. She is the recipient of the Partnership for Public Service 2006 Service to America Homeland Security Medal, presented annually by the nonprofit, nonpartisan partnership to celebrate excellence in the federal civil service. Powell led key diplomatic efforts to organize international preparations for an avian flu pandemic in her State Department post as Special Representative on Avian and Pandemic Influenza. She also received the Arnold L. Raphel Memorial Award for leadership, motivation and mentoring of colleagues, especially junior officers.
Powell received the UNI Alumni Achievement Award recognizing outstanding professional accomplishments during the UNI Alumni Association’s Heritage Honours Awards presentations last fall.
In announcing his latest nominations, President Obama said, “I’m grateful that such experienced and dedicated individuals have joined my administration at a time when our nation faces great challenges. Their deep commitment to their individual areas of work gives me confidence that they will help us put America back on a path to prosperity and security. I thank them for their service and look forward to working alongside them in the years to come.”
Alumnae nominated by Obama
Published: Thursday, June 25, 2009
Updated: Thursday, June 25, 2009
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