Biography
Ambassador Robin Renee Sanders U.S. AMBASSADOR TO Nigeria, 2007-2010 & Republic OF cONGO 2002-2005
Dr. Robin Renee Sanders served as U.S. Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Nigeria from 2007-2010. Prior to that she served as the International Advisor and Deputy Commandant of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces—one of the U.S. military’s premier colleges at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. – where she also taught National Security Studies, International Affairs, and African Studies. Ambassador Sanders also has served twice as the Director for Africa at the National Security Council at the White House. She has a range of policy and development experience working on elections, education, food security, energy, democracy, human rights, and reconstruction. Ambassador Sanders holds a Doctor of Science degree from Robert Morris University, Masters of Arts degree in International Relations and Africa Studies, and Masters of Science degree in Communications and Journalism from Ohio University; and, she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Hampton University. Dr. Sanders is currently the Board Chair of Songhai Integrative Systems Regional Centers – leading centers of excellence on key global human issues - where she focuses on food security, agriculture, sustainable environment, energy, youth education, and entrepreneurship, and a leader of the FEEEDS® advocacy efforts on these same issues at Robert Morris University (RMU) as well as being a member of RMU’s Board of Trustees.
Ambassador Sanders is the recipient of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Civilian Honor Award (one of the highest civilian honor awards by the U.S. military); three State Department Superior Honor Awards; four State Department Meritorious Honor Awards, the “Presidential Medal of Honor “ awarded to her by the President of the Republic of Congo, several citations in Who’s Who of America, and was recently inducted into the U.S. National Honor and Scholar Society for her leadership, public service and academic work.
Her overseas postings have included Dominican Republic, Portugal, Sudan, Namibia, Senegal, Republic of Congo and Nigeria, with missions to Angola, South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Botswana, Mozambique, Rwanda, Zambia, and Benin. She is a trustee of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, and a global advisor to Operation Hope - a non-profit organization focused on working in U.S. at risk communities. Sanders speaks French, and some Spanish, and Portuguese. Activities and articles written by Dr. Sanders can be found on her blog www.blogitrrs.blogspot.com, www.huffingtonpost.com or follow her on www.twitter.com/#rrsafrica
short version
Dr. Robin Renée Sanders, a career member of the senior Foreign Service, arrived in Nigeria in December, 2007. Most recently, she served as International Advisor and Deputy Commandant at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, D.C. Prior to this position, she served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Congo (2002-2005) and as Director for Public Diplomacy for Africa for the State Department (2000-2002).She served twice as the Director for Africa at the National Security Council at the White House; and was the Special Assistant for Latin America, Africa, and International Crime for the Undersecretary for Political Affairs at the State Department (1996-1997). Ambassador Sanders holds a Doctor of Science Degree in Information Systems and Communication from Robert Morris University, Masters of Art degree in International Relations and Africa Studies, and a Masters of Science degree in Communications and Journalism from Ohio University. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Hampton University.
Dr. Sanders is the recipient of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Civilian Honor Award; three State Department Superior Honor Awards; four State Department Meritorious Honor Awards; the “Presidential Medal of Merit Award” from the President of the Republic of Congo, and several citations in Who’s Who of America. She is a national board member of Operation Hope - a non-profit organization focused on empowerment of at-risk communities. see blogitrrs.blogspot.com for additional information.
Nigerian Chieftancy Titles: 1. Ada Nri of Nri Kingdom in Anambra State - First Daughter of the King; 2.) Yeye Oba Of Ogidi- Ijumu in Kogi State - Queen Mother of Ogidi Ijumu land; 3.) Nne Oma of Ebonyi State - Good Mother of Ebonyi State; 4.) Gimbiyan Muri of Taraba State - Princess of Muri in Taraba State; 5.) Ada Mazi of Arochukwu Kingdom in Abia State - First Daughter of the Family or First Daughter of the Soil
