Alexa L. Wesner
Alexa Wesner | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Ambassador to Austria | |
| In office October 22, 2013 – January 20, 2017 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | William Eacho |
| Succeeded by | Vacant |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 4, 1972 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Alma mater | Stanford University |
Alexa Lange Wesner (born 1972) is the former United States Ambassador to Austria. She was nominated by President Barack Obama on July 27, 2013 and was presented with her credentials on September 12. Her term ended on January 20, 2017.[1]
Biography
Wesner was born in Washington, DC, and spent her childhood in Reston, Virginia. She is the daughter of first-generation immigrants from Germany and Latvia. During high school Wesner was a nationally ranked track and field athlete and a varsity swimmer. She later parlayed these skills into triathlon, and in 2003 qualified to join the U.S. National team.[2]
She earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Stanford University in 1994, and moved to Austin, Texas, upon graduation to work for a technology start-up. Three years later she founded HireTECH, a consulting and recruiting company focusing on the tech industry. She launched a second recruiting consultancy, Recruiting Labs, in 2000.[3]
| External videos | |
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| File:US Ambassador Alexa Wesner pd 2015.jpg | |
 U.S. Ambassador Alexa Wesner Promotes Women in Tech Initiative, 2:13, US Embassy Vienna |
Wesner is a supporter of the Democratic party, and has donated approximately $300,000 to Democratic party candidates and the Democratic National Committee. She was an early supporter of President Barack Obama, and as a campaign bundler she raised a combined $676,000 for his 2008 and 2012 Presidential runs.[3][4] She founded Be One Texas to build support for democratic and progressive causes in Texas, and in 2009 was appointed to the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities.[3]
In 2013 Wesner was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Austria. She was one of several campaign donors to receive high-profile diplomatic postings under Barack Obama.[5]
Family
Alexa Wesner is married to venture capitalist Blaine Wesner, with whom she has three young children.[3]
See also
References
- ^ Revesz, Rachel (January 20, 2017). "Donald Trump has fired all foreign US ambassadors with nobody to replace them". The Independent. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
- ^ "Ambassador to Austria: Who Is Alexa Wesner?". Allgov.com. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- ^ a b c d "Alexa L. Wesner". Department of State. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- ^ Opensecrets.org Barack Obama 2008 campaign Bundlers ; Barack Obama 2012 campaign Bundlers.
- ^ Kamen, Al (8 July 2013). "Those generous ambassadors". The Washington Post. Retrieved 20 August 2014.