Ambassador

Biography

Barry L. Wells
Ambassador, Republic of The Gambia
Term of Appointment: Jan 2008 to Jan 2010  

Barry L. Wells

Mr. Barry L. Wells is a career member of the Senior Executive Service, who assumed his duties as Director of the Office of Civil Rights on February 22, 2006. On January 22, 2007 Secretary Rice announced Mr. Wells' appointment as the first Chief Diversity Officer for the Department of State.

Mr. Wells joined the Department of State's Foreign Service Institute (FSI) in 1988 where he served in a number of assignments including Associate Dean of the School of Professional and Area Studies, Associate Dean of the Senior Seminar and The Leadership and Management School. He served as Deputy Director of FSI from 2001-2005, and acting Director from June 2005 through January 2006.

Before joining the Department, Mr. Wells served as a Country Director for the U.S. Peace Corps in Belize followed by a tour in Jamaica. Mr. Wells was Associate Professor and Assistant Dean at Howard University Graduate School of Social Work, and has lectured at the University of Pittsburgh, Youngstown State University and the University of the West Indies.

Mr. Wells holds BA in Psychology and an Masters in Social Work. He also attended the Federal Executive Institute and the Executive Seminar at the Aspen Institute. He is a member of the Thursday Luncheon Group and the Board of Directors of the National MultiCultural Institute. He and his wife Winsome have two daughters and live in Silver Spring, Maryland.