17 Facts About Linda Thomas-Greenfield

Linda Thomas-Greenfield was born on November 22,1952 and is an American diplomat who served as the 31st United States ambassador to the United Nations under President Joe Biden from 2021 to 2025.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield served as the US 18th assistant secretary of state for African affairs from 2013 to 2017.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield took office after presenting her credentials on February 25,2021.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield was born in Baker, Louisiana, in 1952 as one of eight siblings.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield graduated from an all-Black high school in Zachary, Louisiana, in 1970.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield taught political science at Bucknell University, before joining the Foreign Service in 1982.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield served as deputy assistant secretary, Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, principal deputy assistant secretary for African affairs, ambassador to Liberia, and director general of the Foreign Service and concurrently as the director of human resources.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield is a non-resident fellow at Georgetown University, having been the distinguished resident fellow in African studies from fall 2017 to spring 2019.

In November 2020, Linda Thomas-Greenfield was named a volunteer member of President-elect Joe Biden's agency review team to support transition efforts related to the United States Department of State.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield appeared before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on January 27,2021.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield largely agreed with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on international policies, raising concerns about the People's Republic of China's "malign force" and "debt traps and tactics" in Africa and beyond.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield took office after presenting her credentials on February 25,2021.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield accused the People's Republic of China of committing genocide against Uyghurs and of detaining more than one million Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang internment camps.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield expressed concern over reports of escalating ethnic tensions in Ethiopia's Tigray Region and urged peaceful resolution of the Tigray War between Ethiopia's federal government and the forces of the Tigray regional government.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, representing the US, was the sole "no" vote on the 15-member council.

In December 2023, Linda Thomas-Greenfield voted against a humanitarian ceasefire resolution in the 193-member UN General Assembly, where the US does not hold veto power.

In May 2024, the University of Vermont and Xavier University of Louisiana both canceled planned commencement addresses by Linda Thomas-Greenfield following student protests over her selection.