Mari-Luci Jaramillo

Mari-Luci Jaramillo (June 19, 1928 – November 20, 2019) was an American educator and diplomat who served as U.S. Ambassador to Honduras from 1977 to 1980. Upon her confirmation, Jaramillo became the first Mexican-American woman to serve as an American ambassador.[1]

Mari-Luci Jaramillo
United States Ambassador to Honduras
In office October 27, 1977 – September 19, 1980
President	Jimmy Carter
Preceded by	Ralph Elihu Becker
Succeeded by	Jack R. Binns
Personal details
Born	June 19, 1928 Las Vegas, New Mexico
Died	November 20, 2019 (aged 91) Albuquerque, New Mexico
Alma mater	New Mexico Highlands University

Early life and education

Jaramillo was native of Las Vegas, New Mexico.[2] While attending school, she worked in her father's shop, shining shoes.[2] Later, she cleaned houses and waited tables in order to help pay for her tuition at New Mexico Highlands University.[2] In 1959, she graduated magna cum laude from Highlands University with a master's degree in education.[2] In 1970, she earned a doctorate from the University of New Mexico.[2]

Career

After graduation, she became an elementary school teacher.[2] Later Jaramillo joined the faculty at the University of New Mexico and served in various roles, including associate dean, vice president, and assistant to the president of the university.[2]

On April 1, 1977, President Carter asked Jaramillo to become the United States Ambassador to Honduras.[2] She served as ambassador from 1977 to 1980.[2] While serving as ambassador, Jaramillo oversaw the Peace Corps program in Honduras.[3]

Since her ambassadorship, Jaramillo has worked for Educational Testing Service and spent several years at The Pentagon.[2][4] She has also served on the Board of Trustees of the Children's Television Workshop[4] and the Diversity External Advisory Council of the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Jaramillo was later a member of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.

In 1992, Jaramillo was appointed deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Latin America during the Clinton Administration.[2]

Personal life

Jaramillo died in Albuquerque, New Mexico on November 20, 2019. She was 91.[5]

Works

• Jaramiilo, Mari-Luci (1972). Cautions When Working with the Culturally Different Child. OCLC 95564950.
• Jaramillo, Mari-Luci (2002). Madam Ambassador: The Shoemaker's Daughter. Tempe, Ariz.: Bilingual Press. ISBN 1-931010-04-8. OCLC 45917194.
• Jaramillo, Mari-Luci (2019). Sacred Seeds: a Girl, her Abuelos, and the Heart of Northern New Mexico. Taos, NM.: Barranca Press. ISBN 9-7819-39604-34-7. OCLC 1128295966.

References

1. García, Beatriz (2020-04-14). "The fascinating story of Mari-Luci Jaramillo, the first Latina ambassador to the United States". AL DÍA News. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
2. Writer, Rick Nathanson | Journal Staff. "First Hispanic woman ambassador dies at 91". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
3. S., Meier, Matt (1997). Notable Latino Americans : a biographical dictionary. Franco Serri, Conchita., Garcia, Richard A., 1941-. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press. ISBN 058538908X. OCLC 49569798.
4. "A distinguished career in education and leadership honored". UNM Newsroom. 13 October 2016. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
5. "First Hispanic woman to serve as US ambassador dies". AP NEWS. 2019-11-28. Retrieved 2020-07-11.

• Mari-Luci Jaramillo at The Political Graveyard
• Sandoval, Steve (1997-03-10). "Jaramillo speaks to standing-room only audience". Daily News Bulletin. Los Alamos National Laboratory. Retrieved 2007-09-06.