AMBASSADOR

Robin Renee Sanders
U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria

Robin Renèe Sanders U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria | Full size

Robin Renèe Sanders, a career member of the senior Foreign Service, arrived in Nigeria in December, 2007, as Ambassador Plenipotentiary to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.  She is also the U.S. Permanent Representative to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).  Most recently, she served as International Affairs Advisor and Deputy Commandant while also teaching graduate-level courses in the National Security Studies Department at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, D.C.  Prior to this position, she served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Congo (2002-2005); Director for Public Diplomacy for Africa for the State Department (2000-2002); twice as the Director for Africa at the National Security Council at the White House (under Presidents Bush in 1989 and Clinton from 1997-1999); and as Special Assistant for Latin America, Africa, and International Crime for the Undersecretary for Political Affairs at the State Department (1996-1997). She has held postings in Senegal, Sudan, Namibia, Portugal, and the Dominican Republic, and has been on Missions ranging from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, South Africa, Botswana, Angola, Rwanda, and Cameroon.  Her specific areas of expertise include democracy building, election reform, and public diplomacy programs.  Ambassador Sanders holds a Masters of Art and Masters of Science degrees in International Relations and Africa Studies and in Communications and Journalism, respectively, from Ohio University, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Hampton University, and is continuing her doctoral work in Information Science and Communication.

Ambassador Sanders is the recipient of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Civilian Honor Award; three State Department Superior Honor Awards; four State Department Meritorious Honor Awards, the “President Merit of Honor Award” from the Republic of Congo, and several citations in Who’s Who of America and American Women in Politics.

She is a national board member of Operation Hope - a non-profit organization focused on working in at risk communities on economic education and empowerment.