by Denton Ketels

Had the students in Nancy Powell’s social studies classroom in Dayton, Iowa, known that their teacher would someday be working with the U.S. Secretary of State to help shape foreign policy at the highest levels, they might have sat up a little straighter, maybe even paid a little closer attention.

In 2007, Nancy Powell (’70) was nominated by President George Bush to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Kingdom (now State) of Nepal. Her confirmation and swearing in last summer represents the latest assignment in a long and distinguished diplomatic career.

Ambassador Powell previously served as director of International Intelligence for South Asia. A career member of the Senior Foreign Service—a branch of the Department of State—she was U.S. Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan from 2002-2004 and U.S. Ambassador to Ghana from 2001-2002. She served as acting assistant secretary for African Affairs in Washington until June 2001.

Powell was Ambassador to Uganda from 1997-1999, and was deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh, for two years prior. After a one-year tour as consul general in Calcutta, Powell served in New Delhi as political counselor from 1993-1995. She was deputy chief of mission in Lome, Togo, from 1990-1992. Her other overseas assignments have included Islamabad, Kathmandu and Ottawa, and previous Washington assignments included those of Nepal desk officer and refugee assistance officer.

Powell taught for six-and-a-half years following her graduation from UNI as a history and teacher education major. The Cedar Falls native and LeMars High School graduate said a professional development program recommended by her principal at Dayton led to her discovery of the Foreign Service.

Powell said, “I went either to summer school or did some kind of summer program every year, and I spent one summer in Pakistan. It was an absolutely fantastic experience. It was a real eye-opener. It was the first time I had been out of the United States. To see a totally different culture was quite remarkable.”

The ambassador’s assignment to Nepal comes at a critical time, concurrent with resolution of a 10-year civil war and reformation of government from a constitutional monarchy to what Powell referred to as a “fledgling democracy” operating on an interim constitution.

Nepal is important in the context of U.S. relations for several reasons, not the least of which are humanitarian. “There has been an enormous amount of suffering in Nepal as a result of the civil war and the lack of development,” Powell said.

“No one wants a failed state between India and China where you might have other groups try to take advantage of instability that creates either a haven for terrorism or conflict in the subcontinent.”

Powell said she will be involved with U.S. government programs that are helping Nepalis develop political parties and ideas for their constitution and run elections fairly and freely.

She also will oversee the development of health and education programs, working with the Nepalese government and Indian and British diplomats who are active in the region.

Ambassador Powell’s preparation for her assignment to the embassy in Kathmandu includes brushing up on the Nepali language. Her tutors are Nepali, and from them she gains additional insight to the complex and ancient culture.
She has previously studied Nepali. While she humbly denies perfect fluency in any foreign language, Powell also can communicate in German, French and Urdu.

Ambassador Powell said she considers it a “real honor” to have been nominated by the president, noting that hers is an apolitical position. It is protocol to submit a resignation when an administration changes, with ongoing service or replacement left to the preferences of the incoming president.

Powell encourages students who may be considering a career in the Foreign Service to get a good grounding in political science and economics, and to take an active interest in the world. “The education I got at UNI was very good preparation,” she said.

She likes living in Washington, and may choose to reside there when it comes time to retire. Powell has not ruled out living in Iowa, although she admits the occasional big snowstorm makes her rethink the idea. She says her affinity for the classroom may even bring her full circle.

“I enjoyed my teaching,” Powell said. “Teaching was always something I had wanted to do and I may end up returning to it at some point.”

That would indeed be fortunate for some future class of students, who, if they truly want a better understanding of the world in which they live, will be paying very close attention.