The Italian American Claire Pierangelo (Kresge College, History ’82) was confirmed on March 2, 2022 by the United States Senate as the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Madagascar and the Union of the Comoros. A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Pierangelo has served across four continents, most recently as the Principal Officer of the United States Consulate General, Lagos, Nigeria. 

When she arrived at UC Santa Cruz, Pierangelo planned to follow her family’s legacy and become a medical professional, but she recalibrated after studying abroad in Italy her junior year. Combining her passion for history and economics with her enthusiasm for international travel, she found her niche as a European history major intent on pursuing international finance.