American Diplomacy in Action: Fighting Disease, Promoting Democracy, and Creating Economic Opportunity

Foreign policy is forged in Washington, but it means nothing without successful implementation in the far-flung fields of American diplomacy represented by our Embassies, Consulates and Missions abroad. Every day, diplomats toil to advance U.S. interests, solve real world problems, and nurture strong relationships with partner governments and people. It can be grinding, thankless work that goes largely unnoticed by most Americans. In fact, the failures more often overshadow the successes because the consequences for peace, security and stability are so grave and evident. Nowhere are the diplomatic gains and small victories more frequently unnoticed than in Africa, a vast continent of 54 countries, diverse populations, and compelling geography and climate. Drawing on her 39-year career as a diplomat and foreign policy practitioner, Ambassador Malac will share her experience and concrete examples of foreign policy and diplomacy in action in sub-Saharan Africa where she spent the majority of her career. She will speak to her role in leading the U.S. response efforts to the Ebola epidemic in Liberia, challenges to protecting democratic gains across the African continent, and her work on behalf of the U.S. private sector to identify and secure trade and investment opportunities. Ambassador Malac will show why Africa matters to the U.S.

Speaker Bio:

Ambassador (ret.) Deborah R. Malac is a career diplomat who served 39 years as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State. Most recently, she served as the U.S. Ambassador to Uganda (2016-2020) and the U.S. Ambassador to Liberia (2012-2015). Ambassador Malac also served overseas in Ethiopia, Senegal, Thailand, South Africa, and Cameroon as well as multiple assignments in the Department of State in Washington, DC. Most of her career was focused on sub-Saharan Africa and the challenges associated with fostering democracy, improving human rights, encouraging trade and investment, and supporting meaningful economic development. Throughout her career, Ambassador Malac worked with USAID, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Peace Corps and other U.S. government agencies and entities to build resilient health systems, broaden access to education, improve food security and create economic opportunity, especially for women and girls. Ambassador Malac retired from the Department of State in January 2020. She currently serves as Chair of the Board of the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Foundation and Secretary of the Board for Nyaka Global. She was born and raised in Savannah, Georgia.