Biden picks UW-Madison alumna as UN Ambassador
WASHINGTON — President-elect Joe Biden’s pick of Linda Thomas-Greenfield as the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations reflects his intent to return to a more traditional role at the world body as well as offer an olive branch to a beleaguered diplomatic corps.
Thomas-Greenfield is a University of Wisconsin-Madison alumna who has worked with the Young African Leaders Initiative on campus. If confirmed by the Senate, she would be neither the first African American nor the first woman, nor even the first African American woman, to serve as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. But she’s a groundbreaking choice nonetheless.
Congrats to Amb. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, a #UWMadison alumna, on being nominated as U.S. Ambassador to the @UN by President-elect Biden.
We’re grateful for @LindaT_G‘s recent work on campus with the Young African Leaders Initiative and other programs. pic.twitter.com/7TRfuNvTmS
— UW–MaskUp (@UWMadison) November 23, 2020
She joined the State Department more than three decades ago, when Black women were even more of a rarity in the corridors of Foggy Bottom than they are today.
Thomas-Greenfield wrote in a Twitter post that she will “work to restore America’s standing in the world and renew relationships with our allies.”
I’ve had the privilege to build relationships with leaders around the world for the past thirty-five years. As U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, I’ll work to restore America’s standing in the world and renew relationships with our allies. Blessed for this opportunity.
— Linda Thomas-Greenfield (@LindaT_G) November 23, 2020
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