Mari-Luci Jaramillo

Who is Mari-Luci Jaramillo?

Mari-Luci Jaramillo was a U.S. Ambassador to Honduras

Jaramillo worked in her father’s shoe shining shoes while attending school. Later, she cleaned houses and worked as waitress to help pay for tuition at New Mexico Highlands University. She worked as an elementary school teacher after graduation.

She joined the faculty at the University of New Mexico, and worked her way up to becoming an associate dean, vice president, and an assistant to the president of UNM.

On April Fool's Day in 1977 she was asked to consider becoming the United States Ambassador to Honduras by President Carter. Jaramillo at first thought the offer was a prank by her students, but accepted once it became clear it was a legitimate offer. She served almost three years in that position.

Since her ambassadorship, Jaramillo worked for Educational Testing Service, and several years at The Pentagon in the Clinton administration. She has also served on the Board of Trustees of the Children's Television Workshop, and is a member of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials. She also served on the Diversity External Advisory Council of the Los Alamos National Laboratory.