Jessica Lapenn

Jessica "Jessye" Lapenn is an American career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor,^[3] who was sworn in as the U.S. Ambassador to the African Union and the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa on August 27, 2019. Immediately prior, Lapenn served as the Chargé d'Affaires at U.S. Mission in South Africa from 2016 to 2019.^[4]

Jessica Lapenn
United States Ambassador to the African Union and U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
In office October 14, 2019 – February 1, 2023[1]
President	Donald Trump Joe Biden
Preceded by	Mary Beth Leonard
Succeeded by	Stephanie S. Sullivan
Personal details
Born	Jessica Erin Lapenn[2]
Alma mater	Harvard College (BA) Cambridge University
Nickname	Jessye

Born and raised in New York City, Lapenn earned a BA in Women's Studies from Harvard College and an MPhil in International Development from Cambridge University.^[4]