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Sylvia graduated from the Western College for Women in 1965 with a bachelor’s degree in International Studies. Between her junior and senior years, she traveled throughout the Middle East and in Europe with a Western summer abroad program. Awarded a U.S. government sponsored East-West Center Grant for graduate studies, she obtained a Master’s degree in Asian Studies from the University of Hawaii and continued Chinese language studies at the University of Hong Kong School of Oriental Languages and Linguistics.
A career Foreign Service Officer and member of the Senior Foreign Service, Sylvia’s first overseas assignment was as Vice-Consul with the then US Embassy in Taipei, Taiwan (1969-1971). Following a tour as a Watch Officer with the Department of State’s 24-hour Operations Center, she did further language studies in Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese) at the Department of State’s School of Advanced Chinese Language and Area Studies in Taichung, Taiwan. She continued her Cantonese language training in Hong Kong then joined the political section of the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong. Specializing in Asian political affairs, she has served at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, China (1979-81), at the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) in Taipei, Taiwan (1985-1987), and as Charge d’Affaires and Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Wellington, New Zealand (1993-1995). Her Washington assignments have included the Office of China, Hong Kong & Mongolian Affairs and the Office of Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei Affairs. She was Director of the Office of Australia and New Zealand Affairs and headed the Department’s Office of Taiwan Coordination Affairs prior to attending the Senior Seminar, the highest level of executive training offered by the U.S. Government. Sylvia’s domestic assignments also have included the Office of Southern African Affairs, the Office of International Development Assistance, and the Office of the Inspector General. She has also served with the Examination Division of the Bureau of Human Resources. Sylvia served as the U.S. Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam from 1999-2002. After her ambassadorship ended, she became a Diplomat in Residence at Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University from 2003-2005. She then went on to a second Diplomat in Residence post at Spelman College. She was the Senior Advisor for Mentoring Coordination at the State Department prior to her retirement in 2007. Sylvia continues to be involved in mentoring and international affairs programs. She has been very active with the Western College Alumnae Association (WCAA) and is the immediate past President of its Board of Trustees.
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