This post was written by Katie Hudak Senior Program Associate / Social Media Facilitator at Meridian. It is a part of a blog series highlighting and acknowledging the work and contributions of Black diplomats during Black History Month. Born and raised in Mattoon, Illinois, Patricia Roberts was a woman of many firsts. At a young age, she showed academic excellence and drive. Earning numerous scholarship offers, Patricia attended Howard University where she graduated cum laude. While at Howard, she was elected Phi Beta Kappa and served as Vice Chairman of the Howard University chapter of the NAACP. In 1943, she participated in one of...

This post was written by Madison Abreu, IVLP Fellow at Meridian International Center. It is a part of a blog series highlighting and acknowledging the work and contributions of Black diplomats during Black History Month. Pamela L. Spratlen is an established career foreign service officer and has dedicated her life to public service. She was born in Columbus, OH on July 14, 1954, and was raised in Washington State and California. After graduating from Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles, Spratlen earned a B.A. in Psychology from Wellesley College in Massachusetts in 1976. She then returned to Los Angeles...