Kwan, Michelle – Belize – January 2022

UNITED STATES SENATE

SUBJECT: Ambassadorial Nomination: Certificate of
Demonstrated Competence — Foreign Service
Act, Section 304(a)(4)

POST: Belize

CANDIDATE: Michelle Kwan

Michelle Kwan has had a distinguished career in public service, diplomacy and sports. She represented the United States and is the most decorated figure skater in U.S. history having won 43 championships, including five world championships, nine national titles and two Olympic medals. She became the first Public Diplomacy Envoy in 2006 and for a decade traveled extensively on behalf of the U.S. Department of State to engage youth around the world on social and educational issues. Kwan currently serves as the Treasurer and Board Member of Special Olympics International. After she earned a B.A. from the University of Denver with a focus on international relations and a M.A. from Tufts University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, she became a Senior Advisor at the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. In addition, she served as an Advisor to the Office of Global Women’s Issues at the U.S. Department of State where she assisted with the U.S.-China Women’s Leadership Exchange and Dialogue. She was also a member of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition and Council on Empowering Women and Girls Through Sports initiative at the U.S. Department of State. Kwan’s extensive work experience at the U.S. State Department in public diplomacy and youth outreach and her work with non-profit organizations combined with her strong management and business skills make her a well-qualified candidate to be the U.S. Ambassador to Belize.

Previously, Kwan worked on the Hillary for America presidential campaign as the Surrogate Outreach Coordinator. And, more recently, she was the Director of Surrogates for the 2020 Biden for President campaign. Kwan speaks Chinese.