Nicole Avant

Nicole Avant
United States Ambassador to The Bahamas
In office
22 October 2009 – 21 November 2011
President Barack Obama
Personal details
Born (1968-03-06) March 6, 1968
Occupation Ambassador
Political activist

Nicole A. Avant is a former United States Ambassador to The Bahamas to The Bahamas.

Career

Avant was appointed United States Ambassador to the Bahamas by President Barack Obama on June 16, 2009, and September 13, 2009.[1]

At the invitation of Ambassador Avant, leading education reform activist and CEO of the Harlem Children's Zone, Geoffrey Canada, addressed Bahamian education officials at her residence.[2] She has also worked closely with local advocacy groups for people with disabilities. Ambassador Avant hosted Eunice and Francesca Shriver, granddaughters of Special Olympic founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Special Olympians from the Bahamas to mark Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day and to raise awareness for Special Olympics-Bahamas.[3] Holly Robinson Peete and Rodney Peete were also guest of the Ambassador to raise awareness for REACH, a Bahamian support group for families affected by autism.[4] On January 7, 2012, Ambassador Avant received the 20th Annual Trumpet Awards's International Award for her dedication to public service. Mayor Cory Booker, Ted Turner and Aretha Franklin were among the other honorees.[5]

Avant resigned her post in November 2011, following inspector visits during the previous two months. She then assisted with fundraising for Barack Obama's 2012 re-election. A 2012 United States State Department report concluded that Avant had presided over "an extended period of dysfunctional leadership and mismanagement" since her 2009 appointment, creating issues throughout the United States embassy to the Bahamas. The report added that her time frequently spent out of the country or working from home portrayed an air of indifference to the embassy and made for poor management.[6]

Personal life

Avant is married to Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer for Netflix,[7][8] and is the stepmother to two children, Sarah and Tony Sarandos.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Thompson, Lindsay (23 October 2009). "The Bahamas welcomes 13th US Ambassador". The Bahamas Weekly. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  2. ↑ http://www.thebahamasweekly.com/publish/international/Education_Reformer_Geoffrey_Canada_Shares_Insights_from_the_Harlem_Children_s_Zone_with_Bahamian_Leaders14554.shtml
  3. ↑ http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/entry/eks_day_bahamas
  4. ↑ http://nassau.usembassy.gov/autismawareness.html
  5. ↑ http://trumpetfoundation.org/trumpet-2012/2012-trumpet-awards-honorees/
  6. ↑ http://foreignpolicy.com/2012/02/23/another-obama-fundraiser-turns-out-to-be-a-bad-ambassador/
  7. 1 2 http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/obama-ted-sarandos-netflix-nicole-avant-315830
  8. ↑ http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-netflix-ted-sarandos-20130825-dto,0,1864697.htmlstory
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