Unitarian Universalist United Nation Office Staff Biographies

See also: Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office (UU-UNO) address and contact information and information about the work of the UU-UNO.

Bruce Knotts, Director

Bruce Knotts was born and raised in California. He got his Bachelor’s Degree in History from Pepperdine University and his Master’s Degree in International Education from the Monterey Institute of International Studies; both in California. Bruce was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ethiopia. He worked for Raytheon in Saudi Arabia and on a World Bank contract in Somalia, before he joined the Department of State as a U.S. diplomat in 1984. Bruce had diplomatic assignments in Greece, Zambia, India, Pakistan, Kenya, Sudan, Cote d’Ivoire and The Gambia, where he was Deputy Chief of Mission. While in Cote d’Ivoire, Bruce served as the Regional Refugee Coordinator for West Africa coving all 16 nations of West Africa from Mauritania to Nigeria, but focusing on the refugees from the conflicts in Sierra Leone, Liberia and later in Cote d’Ivoire itself. In 2004, Bruce was elected to the Board of Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies (GLIFAA). Bruce retired from the Foreign Service in 2007 and joined the Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office as its Executive Director at the beginning of 2008.

Kamila Jacob, Envoy Coordinator

Kamila Jacob graduated from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA, with a B.A. in Sociology and double minored in Spanish and African American Studies. She was born in Manhattan and raised Unitarian Universalist spending at least 1 week each summer at UU camps such as the Southeast UU Summer Institute (SUUSI), Sophia Fahs, and the UU Mid-Atlantic Community (UUMAC). Kamila attended Sunday school at Community Church until joining the Coming of Age group at All Souls. As a youth she always enjoyed participating in UU activities, especially when she got to stand up and take action!

Nickie Tiedeman, Intern and Office Coordinator

Nickie Tiedeman grew up in Sioux City, Iowa. She received her B.F.A. in Fashion Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. Nickie graduated from London Metropolitan University in London, UK, with an M.A. in International Business and Emerging Markets. While living in London, she did volunteer work for Oxfam and Article 25. Prior to joining the Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office, she was the Volunteer Manager for the Campaign Against Female Genital Mutilation.