Lomellin, Carmen L., 1950-

Ambassador Carmen Lomellin is a former U.S. Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS) and the National Coordinator for the Presidential-level Summit of the Americas. Appointed by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the United States Senate in November 2009, Ambassador Lomellin was responsible for advancing U.S. interests at the OAS and the Inter-American system as well as fostering regional cooperation and partnerships among OAS member states. In addition to analyzing, recommending and authorizing over $23 million for OAS programmatic initiatives, Ambassador Lomellin spearheaded U.S. efforts to advocate for democracy and human rights in the Americas as well as strengthening financial and administrative processes with the OAS and other inter-American organizations.

During her tenure as Permanent Representative to the OAS, Ambassador Lomellin led U.S efforts to modernize the OAS by bringing more oversight and transparency to financial and administrative processes, integrated a gender perspective into U.S. funding to the OAS and doubled the financial support to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

Prior to leading the U.S. Permanent Mission to the OAS, Ambassador Lomellin was the Executive Secretary of the Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM) for the Organization of American States (OAS). She served as CIM Executive Secretary from May 1998 until March 2009. In that position, she provided guidance and direction to the OAS member states and to the OAS General Secretariat on hemispheric policy advancing issues affecting women, particularly in the areas of human rights and gender equality. As head of the Permanent Secretariat, Ambassador Lomellin oversaw the activities of the Commission’s delegates representing the 34 democracies of the Western Hemisphere and managed the daily operations of the Permanent Secretariat. During her tenure at the CIM, she introduced the issue of Trafficking in Person where it remains as a priority issue on the OAS agenda.

During the Clinton Administration, Ambassador Lomellin held the positions of White House Liaison for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and Director of that agency’s Office of International Affairs. She was an Advisor on Hispanic Affairs to the White House Office for Women’s Initiatives and Outreach as well as Search Manager in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel during the 1996 presidential transition, where she worked on sub-cabinet appointments in the area of international trade.

Preceding her international and federal government professional experience, Ambassador Lomellin worked for the Mayor of Chicago, Richard M. Daley, as Director of the Private Industry Council of Chicago. Ambassador Lomellin has worked for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund where she was the Director of Leadership Development, and for Chicago United, a civic think tank, as Director of Economic Development. In addition, she has extensive experience in the private sector, working for the Chicago-based Inland Steel Company in various sales and marketing capacities.

Ambassador Lomellin holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from St. Joseph’s Calumet College and a Masters in Business Administration in International Business from De Paul University, Chicago, Illinois. Ambassador Lomellin has spent a major part of her professional career and personal life working on women’s issues, particularly those in the United States Hispanic community and Latin America and Caribbean countries.

Ambassador Lomelin is currently a Principal with the consulting company of Lomellin Global Partners.