Linda Thomas-Greenfield

Linda Thomas-Greenfield is a career diplomat and former United States Ambassador to the United Nations (2021–2025), where she also served as U.S. Representative in the UN Security Council, sat on the National Security Council and was a member of President Biden’s Cabinet. Earlier, she led the State Department’s transition team for the incoming Biden Administration.

From 2013 to 2017, Linda served as Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, guiding U.S. policy for sub-Saharan Africa. She previously held senior leadership roles as Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Human Resources and served as U.S. Ambassador to Liberia (2008–2012). Her Foreign Service career also included postings in Switzerland, Pakistan, Kenya, The Gambia, Nigeria and Jamaica, as well as senior roles in Washington in the Bureaus of African Affairs and Population, Refugees and Migration.

After retiring in 2017, Linda led the Africa Practice at Albright Stonebridge Group and was a Distinguished Resident Fellow in African Studies at Georgetown University’s Institute for the Study of Diplomacy. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin, where she also pursued doctoral studies. She has received numerous honours, including the Presidential Rank Award and Secretary’s Distinguished Service Award, and holds honorary doctorates from the University of Wisconsin and the University of Liberia. She lives in the United States.