Arlene Render is a U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire Arlene Render of Virginia, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, is the new U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, where her Foreign Service career began as vice consul 31 years earlier. She directed the Office of Southern African Affairs in the Bureau of African Affairs and served as U.S. Ambassador to Zambia from 1996 to 1999. She directed the Office of Central African Affairs from 1993 to 1996. Ms. Render was U.S. Ambassador to The Gambia from 1990 to 1993 and deputy chief of mission in the U.S. Embassy in Accra from 1986 to 1989. Since joining the Foreign Service in 1970, she has also served in Kingston, Brazzaville, Genoa and Tehran.

She has received multiple Senior Performance Awards and several Superior and Meritorious Honor Awards. She speaks French and Italian.