James Creagan
Encyclopedia
James F. Creagan is a United States
diplomat.
Creagan was born in Elyria, Ohio
in 1940 and grew up on the shores of Lake Erie
in nearby Lorain. He is a 1962 graduate of the University of Notre Dame
and holds a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia
. He has taught political science at several universities, including Texas A&M University
. Creagan speaks Spanish, Portuguese and Italian, in addition to his native English, and is the former president of John Cabot University
. He currently directs the Center for International Studies at The University of the Incarnate Word
located in San Antonio, Texas. In addition to teaching International Studies courses, he also is a Comparative Politics professor and a prominent member of UIW's Political Science department.
A career diplomat with over thirty years of experience, Creagan began his career as a Consul in Naples, Italy.
He served as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the American Embassy in Italy before arriving in Honduras. He has also served as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the American Embassy to the Holy See, the Consul General in São Paulo, Brazil and the Political Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia. Other assignments include serving as the Political Counselor at the American Embassy in
Lisbon and as a political and labor officer in U.S. Embassies in Lima, Mexico, San Salvador and Rome.
Following his ambassadorship in Honduras
, Ambassador Creagan was asked to serve as a special Chargé d'Affaires in La Paz
, Bolivia
, during the summer of 2009. This followed a period of tension in the bilateral relationship marked by the September 2008 declaration of Ambassador Philip S. Goldberg as persona non grata
by the Bolivian government.
to be the U.S. Ambassador to Honduras
on March 22, 1996 and was sworn in on July 29, 1996. Creagan arrived in Tegucigalpa
in August 1996, and presented his credentials to the Government of Honduras on August 29, 1996.
Creagan is married to Gwyn Jonsson Creagan of Texas. They are residents of San Antonio, Texas
and have two sons and a daughter-in-law.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
diplomat.
Creagan was born in Elyria, Ohio
Elyria, Ohio
-Community:Elyria has an extensive, although financially burdened, community food pantry and "Hot Meals" program administered through the Second Harvest Food Bank and several churches Elyria is served by Elyria Memorial Hospital.-Recreation and parks:...
in 1940 and grew up on the shores of Lake Erie
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
in nearby Lorain. He is a 1962 graduate of the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
and holds a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
. He has taught political science at several universities, including Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
. Creagan speaks Spanish, Portuguese and Italian, in addition to his native English, and is the former president of John Cabot University
John Cabot University
John Cabot University is a private American liberal arts university located in Rome, Italy. Founded in 1972, it was named after the Italian explorer Giovanni Caboto.-Location:...
. He currently directs the Center for International Studies at The University of the Incarnate Word
University of the Incarnate Word
The University of the Incarnate Word is a private Catholic university located within the cities of San Antonio and Alamo Heights in Texas, United States....
located in San Antonio, Texas. In addition to teaching International Studies courses, he also is a Comparative Politics professor and a prominent member of UIW's Political Science department.
A career diplomat with over thirty years of experience, Creagan began his career as a Consul in Naples, Italy.
He served as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the American Embassy in Italy before arriving in Honduras. He has also served as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the American Embassy to the Holy See, the Consul General in São Paulo, Brazil and the Political Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia. Other assignments include serving as the Political Counselor at the American Embassy in
Lisbon and as a political and labor officer in U.S. Embassies in Lima, Mexico, San Salvador and Rome.
Following his ambassadorship in Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
, Ambassador Creagan was asked to serve as a special Chargé d'Affaires in La Paz
La Paz
Nuestra Señora de La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of the La Paz Department, and the second largest city in the country after Santa Cruz de la Sierra...
, Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
, during the summer of 2009. This followed a period of tension in the bilateral relationship marked by the September 2008 declaration of Ambassador Philip S. Goldberg as persona non grata
Persona non grata
Persona non grata , literally meaning "an unwelcome person", is a legal term used in diplomacy that indicates a proscription against a person entering the country...
by the Bolivian government.
Honduras
He was nominated by President Bill ClintonBill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
to be the U.S. Ambassador to Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
on March 22, 1996 and was sworn in on July 29, 1996. Creagan arrived in Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa , and commonly referred as Tegus , is the capital of Honduras and seat of government of the Republic, along with its twin sister Comayagüela. Founded on September 29, 1578 by the Spanish, it became the country's capital on October 30, 1880 under President Marco Aurelio Soto...
in August 1996, and presented his credentials to the Government of Honduras on August 29, 1996.
Creagan is married to Gwyn Jonsson Creagan of Texas. They are residents of San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
and have two sons and a daughter-in-law.