U.S. President Barack Obama has appointed Pamela Ann White, Ambassador to Haiti that will replace Ambassador Kenneth Merten, who has held this position in Haiti since 2009. This appointment remains to be approved by the U.S. Senate.

Ambassador Pamela Ann White, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Career Minister, currently serves as the U.S. Ambassador to The Gambia. Prior to serving in The Gambia, she was United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director in Liberia, Tanzania, and Mali.

From 1999 to 2001, she served as USAID's Deputy Director for East Africa. Previously, Ambassador White held a number of overseas positions with USAID, including: Executive Officer in Senegal, Haiti, Egypt and South Africa and Community Liaison Officer in Burkina Faso. Prior to joining USAID in 1978, Ambassador White served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Cameroon from 1971 to 1973.

She holds a B.A. from the University of Maine, an M.A. from the School for International Training, and an M.S. from the Industrial College of Armed Forces.

"Pam White has 35 years of experience in countries throughout Africa since she began a career of public service in the Peace Corps in Cameroon. She is a true diplomat and I'm confident that she will represent the United States well in Haiti," said Maine Congresswoman Chellie Pingree.

HL/ HaitiLibre