Mari-Luci Jaramillo
Quick Facts
Biography
Mari-Luci Jaramillo (born June 19, 1928 in Las Vegas, New Mexico) served as a U.S. Ambassador to Honduras.
While attending school, Jaramillo worked in her father’s shop, shining shoes. Later, she cleaned houses and waited tables in order to help pay for her tuition at New Mexico Highlands University. After graduation, she became an elementary school teacher. Later Jaramillo joined the faculty at the University of New Mexico (UNM) and served in various roles, including associate dean, vice president, and assistant to the president of the university.
On April Fool's Day, 1977, President Carter asked Jaramillo to become the United States Ambassador to Honduras. Initially suspecting the offer was a prank by her students, she accepted and served in the position for nearly three years.
Since her ambassadorship, Jaramillo has worked for Educational Testing Service and spent several years at The Pentagon during the Clinton administration. She has also served on the Board of Trustees of the Children's Television Workshop and the Diversity External Advisory Council of the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Currently, Jaramillo is a member of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.