Visit by the Ambassador to the United States from Ecuador to Fair Haven, CT

[Lynn Smith]

Nathalie Cely Suarez, the Ecuadorean Ambasador to the United States, visited the Columbus Family Academy on Friday, March 16, 2012, just one stop in her busy schedule during a visit to the United States to promote business relationships and partnerships with Ecuador.  Warmly welcomed by principal Dr. Abie Benitez, the students of the Columbus Family Academy were delighted to have such an honored guest.  Leida Pacini of the New Haven Public Schools presented Ms. Suarez with an honorary backpack and red school baseball cap, which the Ambassador promptly put on and wore proudly.  Accompanied by the Consul General Raul Erazo Velarde, the Ambassador enjoyed a dance presentation by the foklorica dancers of the Society of the Vigen del Cisne .  As the Columbus Academy is a dual language school, remarks were made in both English and Spanish by Dr. Benitez and the Ambassador, who is the the mother of two and was right at home with the students of the Columbus Family Academy.  At the end of the program, all of the students, faculty and invited guests joined on the stage for a striking group photo.

Born in Ecuador in 1965, Madame Ambassador received her degree in Economics at the Catholic University of Guayaquil in 1990, and subsequently a Masters in Public Administration at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, where she was an Edward Mason Fellow.  She was also a doctoral candidate in Development Economics at FLASCO.   Having worked in the private sector early in her career as a currency trader and banker, she also was a member of the management team of Stratega and subsequently worked on various civic projects in Ecuador, including one supporting development financing for Latin America with the Inter-American Development Bank.

Ms. Suarez was appointed Ambassador in January of 2012.