Susan D. Page is an American diplomat who served as the first United States Ambassador to South Sudan from 2011 to 2015. Her career has focused primarily on African affairs, international development, and humanitarian issues.
Early Life and Education
Page earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Colorado Boulder. She later obtained a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and a Master of Arts (M.A.) in International Relations from Yale University.Career
Page's career in public service and international affairs spans several decades. Prior to her ambassadorial appointment, she held various significant roles within the U.S. government and international organizations:- USAID Mission Director: She served as a Mission Director for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in both Rwanda and Zambia, overseeing extensive development and assistance programs.
- Charge d'Affaires to the African Union: Page was the Charge d'Affaires to the African Union at the U.S. Mission to the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, playing a key role in U.S. engagement with the continental body.
- Deputy Assistant Secretary of State: She also served as a Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of African Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, contributing to policy formulation and implementation across the African continent.
- United Nations and NGOs: Before joining the State Department, Page worked with the United Nations and several non-governmental organizations on issues of human rights, refugee affairs, and humanitarian assistance, including in countries like Chad, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.