Michele Sison | |
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| 28thAssistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs | |
| In office December 21, 2021 – January 20, 2025 | |
| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Kevin Moley |
| United States Ambassador to Haiti | |
| In office February 21, 2018 – October 9, 2021 | |
| President | Donald Trump Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Peter Mulrean |
| Succeeded by | Kenneth H. Merten (Chargé d’Affaires) |
| United States Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations | |
| In office December 7, 2014 – February 21, 2018 | |
| President | Barack Obama Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Rosemary DiCarlo |
| Succeeded by | Jonathan Cohen |
| United States Ambassador to the United Nations Acting | |
| In office January 20, 2017 – January 27, 2017 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Samantha Power |
| Succeeded by | Nikki Haley |
| United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka | |
| In office September 14, 2012 – December 6, 2014 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Patricia A. Butenis |
| Succeeded by | Atul Keshap |
| United States Ambassador to the Maldives | |
| In office September 9, 2012 – December 6, 2014 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Patricia A. Butenis |
| Succeeded by | Atul Keshap |
| United States Ambassador to Lebanon | |
| In office January 25, 2008 – August 9, 2010 Acting: January 25, 2008 – September 4, 2008 | |
| President | George W. Bush Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Jeffrey D. Feltman |
| Succeeded by | Maura Connelly |
| United States Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates | |
| In office February 7, 2005 – January 19, 2008 | |
| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Marcelle Wahba |
| Succeeded by | Martin Quinn |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Michele Jeanne Sison (1959-05-27)May 27, 1959 (age 65) Arlington, Virginia, U.S. |
| Education | Wellesley College(BA) London School of Economics |
Michele Jeanne Sison (born May 27, 1959)[1] is an American diplomat and career member of theSenior Foreign Service who had served as theassistant secretary of state for international organization affairs. She has previously served in various other diplomatic posts around the world on behalf of the United States, includingambassador to Haiti.[2] Sison holds the personal rank ofcareer ambassador.
Sison earned herBachelor of Arts in political science fromWellesley College, and also studied at theLondon School of Economics.[citation needed]
Sison's overseas assignments have included service as deputy chief of mission andchargé d'affaires at the U.S. embassy inIslamabad, Pakistan (1999–2002) and as consul general at theU.S. consulate general inChennai, India (1996–1999). She also served at the U.S. missions inAbidjan, Côte d'Ivoire (1993–1996);Douala,Cameroon (1991–1993);Cotonou, Benin (1988–1991);Lomé, Togo (1984–1988); andPort-au-Prince, Haiti (1982–1984), as well as in Washington. Ambassador Sison is the recipient of numerous U.S. Department of State awards for exceptional service.
She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate asUnited States ambassador to the United Arab Emirates on May 6, 2004, and sworn in by Secretary of StateColin Powell on July 12, 2004. In 2005, during her time as ambassador to theUnited Arab Emirates, she was named 'Abolitionist Ambassador of the Year' for her work with theU.A.E government in rescuing victims of child trafficking.[3]
Prior to her appointment to the UAE, she served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of South Asian Affairs, charged with providing broad policy oversight of U.S. relations withPakistan,Afghanistan,Bangladesh,India,Nepal, andSri Lanka.[4]
She also had a short stint as the U.S.Chargés d'affaires a.i. inLebanon,[5] before her Senate confirmation asU.S. Ambassador to Lebanon on August 1, 2008. Sison's assignment in Lebanon ended in August 2010.
She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on June 29, 2012, asU.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives.[6]
On July 8, 2014, PresidentBarack Obama announced the nomination of Sison asDeputy Representative of the United States to the United Nations, with the rank of Ambassador, and Deputy Representative of the United States in theSecurity Council of the United Nations.[7] She was confirmed by the Senate in a voice vote on November 19, 2014.[8]
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On November 2, 2017, she was confirmed by theSenate to serve as theUnited States Ambassador to Haiti, having been nominated by U.S. PresidentDonald Trump.[9] Among the major issues facing her in her role were navigating a response by the United Nations to victims of acholera epidemic the organization started in October 2010. She was also confronted with the U.S. government's decision on whether or not to extendTemporary Protected Status to Haitian immigrants who were in the U.S. at the time of the massiveearthquake in Port-au-Prince in January 2010.
In 2018, Sison was promoted to the personal rank ofCareer Ambassador, the highest personal rank in the Senior Foreign Service, given for exceptionally distinguished service over a prolonged period of time.[10]
Sison left the post on October 9, 2021, and was succeeded byChargé d’Affaires, a.i.,Kenneth H. Merten.[11]
On April 15, 2021, Sison was nominated byPresident Biden to serve asAssistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs. Sison's nomination was reported favorably on June 24, 2021, by theSenate's Foreign Relations Committee. She was confirmed to the position by theSenate on December 18, 2021, by voice vote,[12] and she was sworn in on December 21, 2021.[13]
Sison speaks fluentFrench and basicHaitian Creole andArabic. She has two daughters.[14] Her father is originally from thePhilippines.[15]
Today marks a proud moment for the @StateDept . Four of our finest diplomats have been conferred by @POTUS as Career Ambassadors—the highest rank in the U.S. Foreign Service. Congratulations, Philip Goldberg, David Hale, Michele Sison & Dan Smith on this high honor. Much deserved!
| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | United States Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates 2005–2008 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | United States Ambassador to Lebanon 2008–2010 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka 2012–2014 | Succeeded by |
| United States Ambassador to the Maldives 2012–2014 | ||
| Preceded by | United States Deputy Representative to the United Nations 2014–2018 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | United States Ambassador to the United Nations Acting 2017 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | United States Ambassador to Haiti 2018–2021 | Succeeded by |
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