Meet Stacie R. Hankins: A Diplomat in Paris Connecting and Protecting

For most people, being assigned to a post in Paris is like winning the lottery. This holds true for diplomats who dedicate their lives to assisting nationals of their respective countries in a foreign land. Stacie R. Hankins arrived at the US Embassy in Paris earlier this year when all eyes were on France for the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic games.

As Chief of the American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit in Paris, Hankins says it’s her job to meet people and listen to them. In today’s world, a diplomat’s job of connecting people to exchange views and ideas is more important than ever. Embassies and their consular staff help their citizens in so many ways, from helping with lost passports to developing business ventures abroad, providing skillful diplomatic negotiations to prevent further conflict, and protecting nationals caught in overseas conflict. Being posted in a different foreign country every two or three years has its challenges, but a career in foreign service, Hankins says, is incredibly rewarding.

Our INSPIRELLE team met Stacie R. Hankins in Paris at the US Embassy Fair in October. She says women should not hesitate to pursue a career in the foreign service and she is more than ready to learn about life in France.

As a diplomat, you have worked in countries around the world. How would you describe your role today based at the US Embassy in Paris?  

Every U.S. diplomat’s role is the same regardless of location: protecting Americans and working on their behalf. But there are many ways to do that. For some, it means encouraging foreign companies to invest in the United States or arranging educational exchanges. For me, in other countries, it meant facilitating legitimate travel to the United States and protecting U.S. borders.

Here in Paris, I’m the Chief of the American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit, so I focus full-time on ensuring that we have the resources necessary to assist Americans. That includes issuing passports and birth certificates or even occasionally buying plane tickets to help an American citizen return to the United States – and everything in between.

Compared to Pakistan, Nigeria, and Belize, how does France compare to these countries where you served? What stands out as important areas of interest for you? 

I try not to compare countries because each one is so different and interesting. I’ve had fabulous experiences in each one of my assignments. Belize’s natural beauty is indescribable; the Nigerian people are so generous; and Pakistan’s history and culture are fascinating.

Serving in France at this moment has been really special though: being here for the 80th anniversary of D-Day and being a part of the excitement of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games has been wonderful. I feel fortunate to be here and to represent the United States at WWII commemoration events or to cheer on amazing Olympic and Paralympic athletes.

As for important areas of interest, I fell in love with France when I was about 12 years old, and I’ve wanted to visit ever since. Now that I’m here for more than just a weekend, I’d really like to see as much of the country as possible. Paris has a lot to offer too, so I’m trying to balance my exploration of the city with traveling to other parts of France.

What inspired you to seek a career in international diplomacy, and what does it take to become a diplomat?  

Growing up, I loved learning languages and I loved the idea of traveling, but I didn’t know how to turn that into a career. Fortunately, I discovered the U.S. Foreign Service at university. But diplomacy is about more than learning languages and traveling. At its core, it’s about connecting with people. That’s what all U.S. diplomats are doing:  meeting and talking to people in the host country, exchanging experiences, and listening.

What does it take to become a diplomat? Curiosity. If you are going to spend all of your time talking to people, you have to be curious.

Some will consider a diplomatic career exciting, filled with travel and cultural exchanges; others will ask how you build a stable lifestyle by uprooting yourself and moving every three years to a completely different country. Is it challenging? Can it even be dangerous if you are posted to a country at war?  

Both views are correct: a diplomatic career can be exciting but you do give up some measure of stability. Sometimes we change jobs after one or two years…staying in one place for three years is a luxury! Yes, it’s challenging. I don’t have a partner, so every time I move, I’m on my own; I’m halfway around the world from my family. It’s tough. I’ve never worked in a war zone, but I have worked in some very challenging environments – countries that we advise Americans not to travel to.

In some countries, the security officers at the embassy limit where we can go within the city or country because of the security risk. But this career is also incredibly rewarding.  In my career, I have reunited families, helped facilitate the return of kidnapped Americans, and achieved a few policy wins for the United States. Moments like those make up for all the challenges.

With so much tension and conflict throughout the world today, do you believe diplomacy’s role has evolved since you started?  

I’m not sure that diplomacy’s role has evolved, but I think that we’ve certainly expanded what qualifies as diplomacy. I think people used to view “Diplomacy” as old, white men making deals behind closed doors. That’s not U.S. diplomacy today. Today’s U.S. diplomats truly represent America, and they bring their experiences and perspectives with them in their careers. Today’s U.S. diplomats are making exchanges and connections with “regular” people, which are just as – if not more – important than the discussions happening at higher levels behind closed doors. We are always on the job, so our interactions – with government officials or the neighborhood grocer – can have an impact.

What advice do you have for women who are considering a diplomatic career? Can one perform this work around the world and also raise a family if that was a choice as well?  

My advice for women considering a career in diplomacy is to go for it.

Women bring experiences and perspectives that are vital to diplomacy, peace, and security. You can raise a family and pursue a diplomatic career if that’s what you choose. 

It won’t be easy; it’s challenging regardless of your family situation. But absolutely worth doing.

Please share with us what your year in Paris has been like. What have you learned about Paris and from the French that has opened your eyes differently? What are one or two of your favorite discoveries? 

I felt like I was running a marathon for my first year in Paris – which is appropriate since the marathon is an Olympic event! Much like Paris, I was prepping my team for the Games, but in our case, we were working to ensure that we were ready for the millions of Americans who were coming to Paris and other parts of France to cheer for Team USA. But even with all of that preparation going on, I was able to enjoy and explore Paris.

For me, the Metro makes the city really accessible. I’ve learned a few things: for whatever reason, Parisians have the reputation of being cold and unfriendly to foreigners. I have not found that to be true. Every Parisian I’ve encountered has a friendly smile and a kind word.

Representing the Embassy and the United States has really opened my eyes to how present WWII is for the French people. The Allies liberated France 80 years ago, but the French people haven’t forgotten. Stories have been passed down through generations.  Every year, French villages, towns, and cities commemorate the sacrifice that the Allies – including the United States – made to liberate this country. It has been such an honor to hear those stories and meet the people who celebrate the liberation and the France-U.S. alliance every year. It showed me that our countries and our people have a deep and lasting friendship that transcends politics.