THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

               PRESIDENT CLINTON NAMES HARRIET L. ELAM AS
               U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE REPUBLIC OF SENEGAL

The President announced today his intent to nominate Harriet L. Elam to be U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Senegal.

Ms. Harriet L. Elam, a native of Boston, Massachusetts, and a current resident of Arlington, Virginia, is a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor. She is currently Acting Deputy Director and Counselor of the United States Information Agency. Her career in the Foreign Service includes assignments as Counselor for Public Affairs in Belgium, Cultural Attache at the American Embassy in Athens, and Country Affairs Officer for Greece, Turkey and Cyprus. Her earlier assignments included the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, the President's Appointments Office at the White House, and Career Counselor for USIA Foreign Service personnel. She also served in France, Senegal, Mali, the Ivory Coast, and Turkey.

A recipient of the Superior Honor Award while in Athens, she also received the Lois Roth Award for Excellence in Informational and Cultural Diplomacy, along with awards from the Greek and Turkish Governments for improving U.S. cultural relations between both countries. Ms. Elam holds a B.S. in International Business from Simmons College and an M.A. in Public Diplomacy from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. She served as Vice President of the Department of State's 37th Senior Seminar. Her foreign language skills are French, Greek and Turkish. She is the sister of Mrs. Annetta Capdeville of Denver, and Judge Harry J. Elam of Boston. Two older brothers Charles Henry Elam and Clarence Richard Elam are deceased.

30-30-30