03/19/2026
Please join us for our event Rising Powers in the Global South with speaker Mari Carmen Aponte on March 31st.
The following is former Ambassador Appntes impressive bio:
• Served as U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador (2010–2016), strengthening diplomatic relations and cooperation between the two countries.
•Served as U.S. Ambassador to Panama (2022–2024), advancing U.S. engagement and partnership in the region.
•Served as Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs (2016–2017), overseeing U.S. diplomatic relations throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.
•Served as Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (PRFAA), coordinating federal funding for Puerto Rico and managing 13 offices across the U.S. supporting underserved communities.
•Former White House Fellows Program Fellow, maintaining strong ties with the prestigious leadership program.
•First woman to lead the Hispanic National Bar Association, a major milestone in legal leadership for the Hispanic community.
•Served on the boards of UnidosUS and the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, organizations dedicated to civil rights and advocacy for Latino and Puerto Rican communities.
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This organization/event is open to all students. American University student organizations shall not discriminate in membership or benefits on the basis of any individual’s personal identity or characteristics, including but not limited to race, color, national origin (or shared ancestry), religion, s*x, age, s*xual orientation, disability, or veteran status. For reasonable accommodations needs or requests, please contact Maura Fox at [email protected].
