Mara Tekach's term ended on January 27, 2021.
DAS Tekach is a career diplomat who has specialized in communications and public diplomacy applications of foreign policy. Before serving in ECA, she served as Minister Counselor for Public Affairs at U.S. Embassy Mexico City. She previously served as Deputy Director of Communications at the United States Mission to the United Nations in New York; Press Attaché in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Minister Counselor for Public Affairs, Port-au-Prince, Haiti. As an economic specialist during her early career, she served as Financial Officer in Moscow, Russia; and as a junior officer in Mauritania and Niger. Her domestic assignments include Senior Desk Officer for Italy; Senior Watch Officer in the State Department’s Operations Center; and economic officer with both the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and the Office of Monetary Affairs of the State Department’s Economic Bureau. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, she was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Niamey, Niger. Her languages are Spanish, Russian, French and some Haitian Creole.
Dr. Tekach holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. From Columbia University, she hold a Masters of Arts in International Affairs, School of International and Public Affairs and a Doctor of Education, Teachers College. She has been the honoree of the Swanee Hunt Award for Advancing Women’s Role in Policy Formulation, as well as two Superior Honor Awards.