President Biden Announces Nathalie Rayes as Nominee for Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Croatia

Nathalie Rayes has had a distinguished career in public service as a leader, consensus builder, and advocate. Rayes is the President and CEO of Latino Victory. Before joining Latino Victory, Rayes was vice president of public affairs for Grupo Salinas in the United States and executive director of Fundación Azteca America. Earlier in her career, she served as deputy chief of staff for Los Angeles Mayor James K. Hahn, where she managed the Office of Intergovernmental Relations, International Trade, Protocol and established Los Angeles’s first Office of Immigrant Affairs. She began her government career as a field deputy and later as senior advisor to Los Angeles City Councilmember Mike Feuer. Rayes currently serves on the board of the United States Institute of Peace, as appointed by President Biden. She also serves as chair of the Hispanas Organized for Political Equality or HOPE Binational U.S.-Mexico Executive Leadership Advisory Group, vice chair of the board of directors of the Hispanic Federation and Planned Parenthood Action Fund as well as an advisory board member of the Aspen Institute Latinos and Society Program. Rayes was appointed during the Obama-Biden Administration to serve on the board of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars from 2014 to 2020. She was a fellow in the economic political section at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo and was selected as an Asia 21 fellow of the Asia Society.

Rayes earned a B.A. in Sociology and an M.P.P. with concentrations in International Relations and Education from the University of California, Los Angeles or UCLA. She is the author of numerous publications, has received many accolades throughout her career, and speaks fluent Spanish and conversational Arabic.

Councilmember Tim McOsker May 2 also made a statement on Nathalie Rayes’ nomination:

“I am thrilled to congratulate Nathalie Rayes on her nomination by President Biden to serve as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Croatia,” said Councilmember Tim McOsker.

“I had the honor of working closely with Nathalie for many years on a variety of issues when she served as the deputy chief of staff to Mayor James Hahn. I know her to be a brilliant, diligent, and thoughtful public servant.

It is especially meaningful to me as the Councilmember for the One-Five, because I have the privilege of representing San Pedro and the Harbor Area, which is home to one of the largest Croatian communities in the United States outside of the Republic of Croatia. With Ms. Rayes as Ambassador, we will continue our strong relationship between, not just the United States of America, but also the City of Los Angeles and the Republic of Croatia. I look forward to working with Ms. Rayes on issues that are important to the residents I serve.”