By Frederick Philander
WINDHOEK
THE new American ambassador to Namibia Gail Dennise Mathieu last week presented her letter of credentials to Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba at State House.
Ambassador Mathieu, a native of New Jersey, is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service.
Most recently, Ambassador Mathieu held the position of Director of the Office of Technical Specialized Agencies in the Bureau of International Organization Affairs at the Department of State.
Prior to that assignment, she served as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Niger from November 2002 to September 2005.
Earlier in her career, she served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Accra, Ghana from 1999-2002. At the Department of State, she served as the Deputy Director of the Office of West African Affairs from 1997-1999, and as the Deputy Director of the Office of Pacific Island Affairs from 1995-1997. She also has held other key positions in Paris, Geneva, Jeddah, Port of Spain and Santo Domingo.
Ambassador Mathieu began her professional career as an Assistant Prosecutor for the City of Newark, New Jersey. She is a member of the New Jersey and District of Columbia Bars.
Ambassador Mathieu received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Antioch College, and a Juris Doctor’s degree from Rutgers University – School of Law, Newark. She also attended the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. She speaks French and Spanish.
Ambassador Mathieu is married and has one son.