Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations was the keynote speaker for the 24th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast hosted by the Centerville Washington Diversity Council. Her topic on January 19, 2026, was “Why foreign policy matters for all Americans.”
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield served as United States Ambassador to the United Nations, as well as the U.S. Representative in the UN Security Council from 2021-2025. During her tenure as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield was a member of President Biden’s Cabinet, and sat on the National Security Council. Prior to this, she headed the State Department’s transition team for the Biden Administration.
As a career diplomat, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield has had a wide range of assignments. From 2013 to 2017, she served as Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, where she led U.S. policy development for sub-Saharan Africa. She previously served as Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Human Resources, overseeing the State Department’s workforce. Her notable Foreign Service roles include Ambassador to Liberia (2008-2012) and postings in Switzerland, Pakistan, Kenya, The Gambia, Nigeria, and Jamaica. In Washington, she served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of African Affairs and as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration.
After retiring in 2017, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield led the Africa Practice at Albright Stonebridge Group and was a Distinguished Resident Fellow in African Studies at Georgetown University’s Institute for the Study of Diplomacy. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and a master’s from the University of Wisconsin, where she also pursued doctoral studies. Her honors include a Presidential Rank Award, Secretary Distinguished Service Award plus numerous other awards. She has honorary doctorates from the University of Wisconsin and the University of Liberia.
The annual breakfast is made possible by generous community sponsors, including:
Presenting
VS & Co
Platinum
Premier Health
Gold
Bob Ross Auto Group
St. Leonard/CHI Communities
Silver
City of Centerville
Jerry & Julia Eddy
Heart of Centerville-Washington Township
Montgomery County Commissioners
Mosaic Church
Washington Township
Wright Patt Credit Union
Bronze
Campanella Law Office LLC
Centerville Rotary Club
Centerville-Washington History
City of Kettering
Dayton Area Board of Realtors
Dr. Percy Frasier
Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz
Graceworks Lutheran Services
Harmony Creek Church
Irongate Realtors
Judge Deidre Logan
National Council of Negro Women - Dayton
Noon Optimist Club of Centerville
Pediatric Associates of Dayton
Jason & Lisa Riley
Springboro Juneteenth Jubilee
Yvette Kelly Fields & Associates
Donor
Bob & Berneta Daley
John & Carol Kennard
Sivaji & Elvessa Subramaniam
Linda White
Terra Fox Williams
The mission of the Centerville-Washington Diversity Council is to celebrate and promote an
inclusive, diverse, and welcoming community for people who live, work, volunteer, and worship in Centerville and Washington Township.
Information about the council is available at www.cwtdiversity.org and on Facebook and
Instagram or by contacting Jason Riley, Council Chair, at cwdcchair@gmail.com.
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