Biography

Ambassador (ret.) John Nay served in the United States Foreign Service for 36 years, including tours of duty in Taiwan, Singapore, India, South Africa, Canada, and Washington, D.C. His final overseas assignment was as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Suriname in South America. During his tenure in Suriname, Ambassador Nay emphasized the importance of human rights, freedom of the press, and the value of environmental awareness and protecting Suriname’s rich environmental diversity.

After retiring from the Foreign Service, Ambassador Nay and his wife Judy Ashdon Nay (also an AU alumnus), returned to Southwest Michigan, where he teaches part-time at Andrews University and at Lake Michigan College. The Nays have three adult children and two grandchildren. Ambassador Nay is language qualified in Chinese (Mandarin) and also has studied Dutch, French, and German. During his Foreign Service career he received three Superior Honor Awards and four Senior Performance Awards.