 | BIOGRAPHY
Wanda Nesbitt
Ambassador, Cote d'Ivoire
Term of Appointment:
10/01/2007 to
present
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Wanda L. Nesbitt was nominated on June 5, 2007 by President Bush to be the next Ambassador to the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire, and the U.S. Senate confirmed her on June 28, 2007. Ambassador Nesbitt presented her credentials on November 6, 2007.
From September 2005 to August 2007, Ms. Nesbitt served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Consular Affairs. She is a consular cone officer with a vast array of experience with policy and management issues.
Prior to that assignment, Ms. Nesbitt was Director of the Senior Level Division in the Bureau of Human Resources’ Career Development and Assignments (HR/CDA) Division, which handles assignments issues for the Department's most senior career officers and acts as the Executive Secretariat for the Chief of Mission and Deputy Chief of Mission/Principal officer selection committees.
From January 2002 to August 2004, Ms. Nesbitt was the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Madagascar. Issues to which she devoted particular attention included: environmental preservation and protection, increased private sector involvement in poverty reduction strategies, and long-term commitment to good governance and democratic practices. Ambassador Nesbitt played a key role in helping resolve Madagascar's 2002 political crisis.
Ms. Nesbitt has twice been Deputy Chief of Mission, first at our Embassy in Kigali, Rwanda (1997-1999) and then at the Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. She was Chargé d'Affaires in Tanzania from January – November 2001.
Ms. Nesbitt joined the Foreign Service in 1981. Her consular assignments include: Regional Consular Officer in Kinshasa, Zaire (1990-1992); a Vice-Consul in Paris, France (1983-1985) and also in Port-au-Prince, Haiti (1982-1983). In Washington, Ms. Nesbitt was the Officer in Charge of Immigration and Refugee Issues for the Bureau of Legislative Affairs (1995-1997); Chief of the Europe and Africa Division of Citizens Emergency Center (1992-1993); and Deputy Director of the Department's Executive Secretariat Staff (1994-1995).
Ms. Nesbitt is the recipient of numerous awards, including four Superior Honor Awards. She earned a Master’s Degree in National Security Strategy from the National War College in 1997. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and holds B.A.s in International Relations and French.
Ms. Nesbitt was born Dec. 7, 1956 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the third of five children. She is married to Mr. James Stejskal, a retired Special Forces Warrant Officer. They enjoy gardening, cooking, photography and music.
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Released on October 10, 2007
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