Sandra Springer Oudkirk () is a United States diplomat currently serving as Director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), the ''de facto'' embassy of the United States in Taiwan. She is the first woman to hold the role. Oudkirk's prior appointments include U.S. Senior Official for

APEC The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC ) is an inter-governmental forum for 21 member economies in the Pacific Rim that promotes free trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs.

Early life and education

Oudkirk was born and raised in

Tampa, Florida Tampa () is a city on the Gulf Coast of the United States, Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The city's borders include the north shore of Tampa Bay and the east shore of Old Tampa Bay. Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and ...

. She is a graduate of Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service.

Career

Oudkirk started working for the US State Department in 1991. She has served consular assignments in Taipei and Dublin as well as assignments in Turkey, Jamaica, and China. Oudkirk's prior appointments include U.S. Senior Official for

APEC The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC ) is an inter-governmental forum for 21 member economies in the Pacific Rim that promotes free trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. In October 2019, she attended the Pacific Islands Dialogue and the Yushan Forum where she emphasized the need for diplomatic ties between Taiwan and its Pacific allies.

American Institute in Taiwan

Oudkirk was appointed Director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), the ''de facto'' embassy of the United States in Taiwan, on July 8, 2021. She is the first woman to hold the role. Oudkirk formally took office on July 15, 2021.

Personal life

Oudkirk is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and Turkish. She is married to Scott McConnin Oudkirk, with whom she served at Embassies in Beijing and

Ankara Ankara ( , ; ), historically known as Ancyra and Angora, is the capital of Turkey. Located in the central part of Anatolia, the city has a population of 5.1 million in its urban center and over 5.7 million in Ankara Province, maki ...

. Their 3 children, Andy, Olivia and Thomas, were born in Turkey.

References

Year of birth missing (living people) Living people American women diplomats American diplomats United States Department of State officials Directors of the American Institute in Taiwan People from Tampa, Florida Walsh School of Foreign Service alumni 21st-century American women {{US-diplomat-stub