After her brother was drafted into the military, Alison Palmer decided to leave a budding career in journalism to follow in his footsteps and serve her country. She joined the US Foreign Service as a secretary and went to Accra, Ghana. It was 1956.
As Palmer's career with the Foreign Service advanced, so did the obstacles facing her within the organization. While serving in war-ravaged countries and combat zones, Palmer fought her own battles against rampant and systemic sex discrimination in the government, culminating in a class action lawsuit that has benefitted all women in the Foreign Service.
In the midst of her professional hardships, Palmer underwent a spiritual transformation that compelled her to seek ordination within the Episcopal Church. Once again, Palmer was denied because of her sex-and once again, she refused to back down.
Diplomat and Priest chronicles the half century Palmer spent fighting for her rights and the rights of other women. Her bravery and tenacity resulted in improvements in policies and practices at both the US Department of State and in the Anglican Communion, benefiting thousands of women and changing the face of both state and church.
About the Author: Alison Palmer was born in Medford, Massachusetts, in 1931. She attended Pembroke College, graduating cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1953 with a degree in English literature and a minor in political science. She worked on the Christian Science Monitor and the New York Times before joining the Foreign Service in 1955.
Palmer was assigned to the former Belgian Congo as vice consul. There, she rescued an American army officer from a mob and saved three journalists from the firing squad. She also served in British Guiana, in Ethiopia, and Vietnam.
During her career, Palmer encountered severe discrimination because of her sex. In 1968, she filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint against the State Department that led to the first investigation and hearing on this issue.
While in the Foreign Service, Palmer experienced a spiritual journey culminating in her 1975 ordination as a priest in the Episcopal Church.
