Mari-Luci Jaramillo

Mari-Luci Jaramillo (June 19, 1928 – November 20, 2019) was an American educator and diplomat who served as U.S. Ambassador to Honduras from 1977 to 1980. Upon her confirmation, Jaramillo became the first Mexican-American woman to serve as an American ambassador.[1]

Mari-Luci Jaramillo
United States Ambassador to Honduras
In office
October 27, 1977 – September 19, 1980
PresidentJimmy Carter
Preceded byRalph Elihu Becker
Succeeded byJack R. Binns
Personal details
BornJune 19, 1928
Las Vegas, New Mexico
DiedNovember 20, 2019
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Alma materNew Mexico Highlands University

Early life and education

Jaramillo was native of Las Vegas, New Mexico. While attending school, she worked in her father's shop, shining shoes. Later, she cleaned houses and waited tables in order to help pay for her tuition at New Mexico Highlands University.

Career

After graduation, she became an elementary school teacher. Later Jaramillo joined the faculty at the University of New Mexico and served in various roles, including associate dean, vice president, and assistant to the president of the university.

On April 1 1977, President Carter asked Jaramillo to become the United States Ambassador to Honduras. Initially suspecting the offer was a prank by her students, she accepted and served in the position for nearly three years. While serving as ambassador, Jaramillo oversaw the Peace Corps program in Honduras.[2]

Since her ambassadorship, Jaramillo has worked for Educational Testing Service and spent several years at The Pentagon. She has also served on the Board of Trustees of the Children's Television Workshop and the Diversity External Advisory Council of the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Currently, Jaramillo is a member of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.

Jaramillo later served as deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Latin America during the Clinton Administration.

Personal life

Jaramillo died in Albuquerque, New Mexico on November 20, 2019. She was 91.[3]

Works
  • Jaramiilo, Mari-Luci (1972). Cautions When Working with the Culturally Different Child. OCLC 95564950.
  • Jaramillo, Mari-Luci (2002). Madam Ambassador: The Shoemaker's Daughter. Tempe, Ariz.: Bilingual Press. ISBN 1-931010-04-8. OCLC 45917194.
  • Jaramillo, Mari-Luci (2019). Sacred Seeds: a Girl, her Abuelos, and the Heart of Northern New Mexico. Taos, NM.: Barranca Press. ISBN 9-7819-39604-34-7. OCLC 1128295966.

References
  1. García, Beatriz (2020-04-14). "The fascinating story of Mari-Luci Jaramillo, the first Latina ambassador to the United States". AL DÍA News. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  2. S., Meier, Matt (1997). Notable Latino Americans : a biographical dictionary. Franco Serri, Conchita., Garcia, Richard A., 1941-. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press. ISBN 058538908X. OCLC 49569798.
  3. "First Hispanic woman to serve as US ambassador dies". AP NEWS. 2019-11-28. Retrieved 2020-07-11.


Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Ralph E. Becker		 United States Ambassador to Honduras
1977 – 1980		 Succeeded by
Jack R. Binns


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