# Nathalie Rayes

Nathalie Rayes (born January 12, 1975) is an American diplomat who had served the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Croatia. Most recently, she was president and CEO of Latino Victory. She chaired the Hispanic Federation and the Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) Binational Advisory Group and was a board member of the Aspen Institute Latinos and Society Program. In 2022, Rayes was appointed by President Joe Biden to serve as a board member of the United States Institute of Peace. In 2023, she was nominated by the United States President Joe Biden as US ambassador to Croatia. She was confirmed by the Senate on December 6, 2023, by a 53–47 vote. She presented her credentials to Croatian President Zoran Milanović on January 25, 2024.

## Background and education

Nathalie Rayes and her parents moved from Venezuela to Marina del Rey, California, when she was nine. Her father passed away soon after moving to the United States.
Rayes earned a B.A. in Sociology and an M.P.P. with concentrations in International Relations and Education, at the University of California, Los Angeles.

## Career

Nathalie Rayes was previously president and CEO of Latino Victory. She also chaired the Hispanic Federation and the Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) Binational Advisory Group, served as vice chair of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and was a board member of the Aspen Institute Latinos and Society Program. She was also on the boards of Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) and Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI).
In 2014, she was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve on the board of the Woodrow Wilson Center. In 2022, Rayes was appointed by President Joe Biden to the board of the United States Institute of Peace. In 2023, she was nominated by the United States President Joe Biden as US ambassador to Croatia.
Rayes started her career as a field deputy and later Senior Policy Advisor to Los Angeles council member Mike Feuer. Afterwards, Rayes served as chief of staff to Los Angeles mayor James Hahn. She was Vice President of public affairs for Grupo Salinas in the United States and executive director of Fundación Azteca America. In 1998, she was a State Department fellow in the U.S. Embassy in Cairo in the economic political section.
In 2023, Rayes was nominated by the United States President Joe Biden as U.S. ambassador to Croatia and subsequently confirmed by the United States Senate on December 6, 2023. She was sworn into the role on December 11, 2023, and presented her credentials to Croatian President Zoran Milanović on January 25, 2024.

## Honors and awards

In 2016, UCLA Luskin of Public Affairs recognized Nathalie Rayes as "Alumna of the Year". In 2021, she was named among the "25 Most Powerful Latinas" in People en Español magazine. Rayes has been recognized by Huffington Post in the group "40 Under 40 Latinos in Foreign Policy" as one of the most influential Latina leaders in international policy. Other awards include in 2021 and 2022, Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) Most Powerful Latinas, in 2021 AL DÍA Archetype Ambassador Manuel Torres Award, and in 2013, Santa Monica College Distinguished Alumna Recognition Award for Outstanding Professional and Community Service.

## Personal life

She is married to Dr. Tarek Samad, a neuroscientist, and they have two sons, Julian and Alexander.