AMBASSADOR RANNEBERGER
The Towson University Journal of International Affairs is honored to host Mr. Michael Ranneberger, U.S. Ambassador to Kenya (2006-2011), for a talk on Thursday, February 28, 2019, from 5-7pm in the Liberal Arts room 4110.
Ambassador Ranneberger’s talk will focus on the developments in democracy and human rights in Africa, discussing challenges and opportunities in the modern context of the continent.
BIOGRAPHY
A 1971 graduate of Towson University, Ambassador Michael Ranneberger is a career diplomat with the U.S. State Department. A recipient of the State Department’s Distinguished Service Award, two Presidential Meritorious Service Awards, and the Wellstone Anti-Slavery Ambassador of the Year Award, Ambassador Ranneberger has served in multiple roles to advance American diplomatic ventures abroad. Between the years 1981 and 1984, Ambassador Ranneberger served as Angola Desk Officer, working diligently to negotiate peace deals for the state of Namibia and broker diplomatic relationships between Cuba and Angola. From 1986 to 1989, Ambassador Ranneberger was the Deputy Chief of Mission in Maputo, Mozambique.
In 1989, Mr. Ranneberger served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Asuncion, Paraguay, and helped steer the state through a democratic governmental transition. Ambassador Ranneberger also served as Deputy Director for Central American Affairs from 1992 to 1994, once again spearheading peace efforts within the region.
From July 1995 to July 1999, Ambassador Ranneberger served as coordinator for Cuban Affairs. And from 1999 to 2002, Mr. Ranneberger served as Ambassador to the Republic of Mali.
More recently, from 2002 to 2004, Ambassador Ranneberger held the position of Special Advisor on Sudan, and from 2004 to 2005, served as the Africa Bureau’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary. Most recently, however, from 2006 to 2011, Ambassador Ranneberger served as the U.S. Ambassador to Kenya, while also overseeing U.S. relations with Somalia.
