 Ambassador Marcelle M. Wahba escorts UAE Information Minister HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan through the Embassy's photo exhibit on famous immigrants to the U.S. during the U.S. Independence Day 2002 celebration. (Courtesy of U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi) |
OFF THE WIRE - WESTERN COLLEGE ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION
"The President intends to nominate Marcelle M. Wahba to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the United Arab Emirates." That is how the White House press release of May 16, 2001, announced the ambassadorial appointment of Marcelle Wahba '69.
Following the brief summary of her extensive career in the diplomatic service, there was further identification: "A resident of Sacramento, California, she is a graduate of the Western College for Women in Oxford, Ohio." Marcelle's appointment was duly confirmed by the Senate, and she was sworn in by Secretary of State Colin Powell on October 1, 2001. Shortly thereafter, she and her husband, Derek Farwagi, a marketing and human resource development consultant, took up residence in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi. Their daughter, Morwenna O. Farwagi lives in Australia.
Born in Cairo, Egypt, where her father was registrar and director of admissions at the American University, Marcelle is the first Egyptian-American -- as well as the first woman of Arab descent -- to be appointed ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. The family immigrated to the United States in 1967. Marcelle's career path might have been foretold at Western: She majored in political science and minored in international relations. After graduation, she worked for the Department of Human Resources in Seattle, Washington, and as Grants and Projects Officer back at American University in Cairo. But then her diplomatic service began in earnest. She was Deputy Policy Officer in the Near East Office of the U.S. Information Agency in 1987-88; Press Attach?nd Embassy Spokesperson in Cairo, 1988-91; Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Nicosia, Cyprus, 1991-94; Counselor for Press and Cultural Affairs in Amman, Jordan, 1995-99, and in Cairo, 1999-01.
At her swearing-in ceremony so soon after the tragic events of September 11, Ambassador Wahba noted the heightened responsibility of those in diplomatic service: "... we will have to do more and do it better to serve as our nation?s first line of defense. I look forward to serving in the UAE and to working closely with its leadership in support of the global effort against terrorism."
Many
of Ambassador Wahba's remarks and speeches can be found at this
Remarks and
Speeches link.