Karen Sasahara
Karen Sasahara | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Ambassador to Kuwait | |
| Assumed office November 26, 2023 | |
| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Alina Romanowski |
| Chargé d'Affaires to Jordan | |
| In office March 14, 2019 – August 30, 2020 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Henry T. Wooster (Chargé d'Affaires) |
| Succeeded by | Mike Hankey (Chargé d'Affaires) |
| United States Consul General in Jerusalem | |
| In office August 2018 – March 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Donald Blome |
| Succeeded by | Position terminated |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1959 (age 64–65) |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | Michael Ratney |
| Education | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (BA) George Washington University (MA) |
Karen Hideko Sasahara (born 1959) is an American diplomat who has served as United States ambassador to Kuwait since November 2023. She previously served as consul general in Jerusalem until the US embassy spokesperson in Israel moved to Jerusalem, and the US consulate closed down.
Early life and education
[edit]Sasahara was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts[1] and raised in the Boston area. Sasahara has a MA in Near East studies from the George Washington University, and a BA in international relations from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.[2][3]
Career
[edit]Sasahara is a member of the Senior Foreign Service, with the rank of minister-counselor. As consul general, she was the point person for the State Department with the Palestinian Authority.[2] Her next assignment was chargé d'affaires, a.i. at the U.S. embassy in Amman since March, 2019.[2]
In 1989 she served as political and economic officer at the US consulate general in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.[4]
Ambassador Nomination to Kuwait
[edit]On August 19, 2022, President Joe Biden nominated Sasahara to be the next ambassador to Kuwait.[3] On September 6, 2022, her nomination was sent to the Senate.[5] Sasahara's nomination expired at the end of the year and was returned to President Biden on January 3, 2023.[6]
President Biden renominated Sasahara the following day. Hearings on her nomination were held before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on March 15, 2023. The committee reported her nomination favorably on April 27, 2023. Her nomination was confirmed by the full Senate via voice vote on October 16, 2023.[7]
Personal life
[edit]Sasahara is married to fellow diplomat Michael Ratney.[1] She speaks Arabic, Spanish, French, and Russian.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "WEDDINGS; Karen Sasahara, Michael Ratney". The New York Times. July 19, 1998. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
- ^ a b c Estrin, Daniel (March 1, 2019). "As U.S. Jerusalem Consulate Shuts, Pro-Israel Envoy Takes On Palestinian Relations". NPR. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
- ^ a b c "President Biden Announces Key Nominees". The White House. 19 August 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
- ^ Information on p. 41
- ^ "Nominations Sent to the Senate". The White House. 6 September 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
- ^ "PN2490 - Nomination of Karen Sasahara for Department of State, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". www.congress.gov. 6 September 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
- ^ "PN42 — Karen Sasahara — Department of State 118th Congress (2023-2024)". US Congress. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
- Politicians from Cambridge, Massachusetts
- 1959 births
- Living people
- George Washington University alumni
- University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee alumni
- Ambassadors of the United States to Jordan
- United States Foreign Service personnel
- American women ambassadors
- American consuls
- American women diplomats
- Consuls-General of the United States to Jerusalem