Judith Beth Cefkin
Judith Beth Cefkin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 15th United States Ambassador to Fiji | |
| In office February 3, 2015 – February 25, 2018 | |
| President | Barack Obama Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Frankie A. Reed |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Cella |
| 12th United States Ambassador to Kiribati | |
| In office February 23, 2015 – February 25, 2018 | |
| President | Barack Obama Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Frankie A. Reed |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Cella |
| 13th United States Ambassador to Nauru | |
| In office August 12, 2015 – February 25, 2018 | |
| President | Barack Obama Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Frankie A. Reed |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Cella |
| 15th United States Ambassador to Tonga | |
| In office April 22, 2015 – February 25, 2018 | |
| President | Barack Obama Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Frankie A. Reed |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Cella |
| 13th United States Ambassador to Tuvalu | |
| In office May 12, 2015 – February 25, 2018 | |
| President | Barack Obama Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Frankie A. Reed |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Cella |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1953 (age 70–71) Colorado, U.S. |
| Spouse | Paul Boyd |
| Alma mater | Smith College London School of Economics |
Judith Beth Cefkin (born in 1953) is an American diplomat and former ambassador to five nations in Oceania. She served concurrently as the ambassador to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu, while in residence in Suva, Fiji.[1]
Early life and education
[edit]Cefkin was born in New York to Rose (née) Mackanick and John Leo Cefkin.[2] She grew up in Ft. Collins, Colorado, where her father was a professor of political science at Colorado State University.[3] Cefkin attended Smith College, where she earned a B.A. in government in 1975. She then studied at the London School of Economics and Political Science, earning a master's degree in International Relations in 1977.
Career
[edit]
After completing graduate studies, Cefkin became a television news producer.[4] She worked as a legislative intern in Washington, D.C. and also worked in the Office of Technology Assessment for Congress.
In 1983 Cefkin embarked on a career in the Foreign Service. Her assignments have included ones in Thailand, France, Mexico and The Philippines. She served as deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok.[5]
She was nominated by President Barack Obama as ambassador to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu on July 9, 2014. Her nomination was confirmed by the Senate on November 19, 2014.[6] She presented her credentials in the five nations between February and August 2015, and served until February 25, 2018.[7]
Personal life
[edit]Cefkin is married to Paul Boyd, a foreign service officer who has also served as a police officer and member of the U.S. Special Forces.[8]
In addition to English she speaks French, Thai, Bosnian and Spanish.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ "The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training Foreign Affairs Oral History Program AMBASSADOR JUDITH CEFKIN" (PDF). Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training. 4 February 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 June 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
- ^ Rose Cefkin Obituary, Oct 8 2014
- ^ U.S. Ambassador to Fiji, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu and Nauru: Who Is Judith Cefkin? AllGov, accessed March 28, 2016
- ^ New US ambassador visits newsroom The Fiji Times, February 17, 2015
- ^ Marines drink cobra blood, eat insects in jungle survival drills in Thailand New York Daily News, February 13, 2012
- ^ "PN1841 — Judith Beth Cefkin — Department of State 113th Congress (2013-2014)". US Congress. November 19, 2014. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
- ^ "Judith Beth Cefkin (1953–)". Department of State.
- ^ Testimony of Judith B. Cefkin Ambassador-Designate to the Republic of Fiji, the Republic of Kiribati, the Republic of Nauru, the Kingdom of Tonga, and Tuvalu U.S. Senate, September 10, 2014
- ^ OUTGOING U.S. AMBASSADOR CONGRATULATES HER SUCCESSOR JUDITH CEFKIN The Jet Newspaper, November 20, 2014
External links
[edit]
- U.S. Embassy - Fiji
- U.S. Embassy Mission Leaders - Fiji Archived 2020-04-09 at the Wayback Machine
- U.S. Department of State Biography
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- 1953 births
- Living people
- Alumni of the London School of Economics
- Ambassadors of the United States to Fiji
- Ambassadors of the United States to Kiribati
- Ambassadors of the United States to Nauru
- Ambassadors of the United States to Tuvalu
- Ambassadors of the United States to Tonga
- American women ambassadors
- Obama administration personnel
- Smith College alumni
- United States Foreign Service personnel
- 21st-century American women civil servants
- 21st-century American diplomats