Brenda Schoonover
Encyclopedia
Brenda Brown Schoonover was the United States Ambassador to Togo
, from January 1998 to July 2000.
Schoonover was born in Baltimore, Maryland.She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Morgan State University
in Baltimore, and did graduate studies at Howard University
, Washington, D.C.
. She is fluent in French; and is married to Richard C. Schoonover, a former Foreign Service
officer retired from the former United States Information Agency (now known as the Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs section of the State Department).
She began her overseas service as a Peace Corps Volunteer in 1961 in the Philippines
with the first groups to go abroad. She later served in the Peace Corps' Office of Talent Search, then as Associate Director of the Peace Corps in Tanzania
, followed by an appointment as Director of the agency's School Partnership Program. In the seventies, Schoonover worked for two years as Arlington County of Virginia
's Affirmative Action Officer.
Schoonover has been with the Department of State for 21 years in a variety of administrative positions in the Philippines; Sri Lanka
; Tunisia
; and in the Bureau of Near East and South Asian Affairs. From 1988 to 1991, she was the Chief of Personnel for the Bureau of Europe
an and Canadian Affairs. From 1992-96 she was Administrative Officer/Deputy Director for the Office of Joint Administrative Services, U.S. Embassy, Brussels
, Belgium
. She completed the Senior seminar for foreign affairs required by the U.S. State Department.
Since her arrival in Togo in January 1998, the Ambassador has spoken at several conferences on the Government of Togo's hospital and school supplies donated by the U.S. Department of Defense. The Ambassador has also welcomed several groups of Peace Corps Volunteers to Togo
and in April 1998, participated in the Peace Corps All-Volunteer Conference in Pagala, Togo. Her term ended in July 2000 and was given presented credentials on January 7, 1998. She retired in 2004.
United States Ambassador to Togo
This is a list of Ambassadors of the United States to Togo.Until 1955 French Togoland was a United Nations Trust Territory mandated by the U.N. to France. In 1955, French Togoland became the autonomous Republic of Togo within the French Community , although it retained its UN trusteeship status...
, from January 1998 to July 2000.
Schoonover was born in Baltimore, Maryland.She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Morgan State University
Morgan State University
Morgan State University, formerly Centenary Biblical Institute , Morgan College and Morgan State College , is a historically black college in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Morgan is Maryland's designated public urban university and the largest HBCU in the state of Maryland...
in Baltimore, and did graduate studies at Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. She is fluent in French; and is married to Richard C. Schoonover, a former Foreign Service
United States Foreign Service
The United States Foreign Service is a component of the United States federal government under the aegis of the United States Department of State. It consists of approximately 11,500 professionals carrying out the foreign policy of the United States and aiding U.S...
officer retired from the former United States Information Agency (now known as the Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs section of the State Department).
She began her overseas service as a Peace Corps Volunteer in 1961 in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
with the first groups to go abroad. She later served in the Peace Corps' Office of Talent Search, then as Associate Director of the Peace Corps in Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
, followed by an appointment as Director of the agency's School Partnership Program. In the seventies, Schoonover worked for two years as Arlington County of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
's Affirmative Action Officer.
Schoonover has been with the Department of State for 21 years in a variety of administrative positions in the Philippines; Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
; Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
; and in the Bureau of Near East and South Asian Affairs. From 1988 to 1991, she was the Chief of Personnel for the Bureau of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an and Canadian Affairs. From 1992-96 she was Administrative Officer/Deputy Director for the Office of Joint Administrative Services, U.S. Embassy, Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. She completed the Senior seminar for foreign affairs required by the U.S. State Department.
Since her arrival in Togo in January 1998, the Ambassador has spoken at several conferences on the Government of Togo's hospital and school supplies donated by the U.S. Department of Defense. The Ambassador has also welcomed several groups of Peace Corps Volunteers to Togo
Togo
Togo, officially the Togolese Republic , is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately with a population of approximately...
and in April 1998, participated in the Peace Corps All-Volunteer Conference in Pagala, Togo. Her term ended in July 2000 and was given presented credentials on January 7, 1998. She retired in 2004.