Melinda Hildebrand
Melinda Hildebrand | |
|---|---|
| 44th United States Ambassador to Costa Rica | |
| Assumed office TBD | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceding | Cynthia A. Telles |
| Personal details | |
| Born | United States |
| Spouse | Jeffery Hildebrand |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of Texas at Austin (BBA) |
| Occupation | Businesswoman • diplomat |
Melinda "Mindy" Hildebrand is an American businesswoman and diplomat. She is the President of the Hildebrand Foundation and Vice President of Hilcorp Ventures, Inc. In 2025, she was nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as the United States Ambassador to Costa Rica and was confirmed by the Senate on October 7, 2025.[1][2]
Education
Hildebrand earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin, where she was awarded the Presidential Citation.[3]
Career
Hildebrand is the president and owner of River Oaks Donuts in Houston, Texas. She also serves as the President of the Hildebrand Foundation and Vice President of Hilcorp Ventures, Inc.[4]
Diplomatic nomination
On September 3, 2025, Hildebrand appeared before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee as President Trump's nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica.[5] Her nomination is pending full Senate confirmation.[6][7]
Affiliations
Hildebrand has served on a wide range of boards, committees, and nonprofit organizations, both locally and nationally, including:[8][9]
- MD Anderson Cancer Center – President's Executive Council, Board of Visitors
- University of Texas at Austin – Development Board, McCombs Advisory Council, Executive Committee for the What Starts Here campaign
- University of St. Thomas (Houston) – Advisory Board
- Museum of Fine Arts, Houston – Bayou Bend and European Arts Subcommittees
- Episcopal High School (Bellaire, Texas) – Executive Committee and Endowment Committee
- James Beard Foundation (New York City) – Board Member
She has also been active with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo International Committee for more than three decades, and is a sustaining member of the Junior League of Houston.[8]
Personal life
Hildebrand is married to Jeffery Hildebrand,[10] with whom she has three children.[4]
See also
References
- ^ "Hildebrand, Melinda – Republic of Costa Rica – June – 2025". United States Department of State. June 12, 2025. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
- ^ U.S. Congress (September 19, 2025). "Nomination of Melinda Hildebrand for Department of State, 119th Congress (2025-2026)". Congress.gov. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
- ^ Lee, Adrienne (April 29, 2022). "Four Longhorns Honored With Presidential Citations for Their Service to UT". UT Austin News - The University of Texas at Austin. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
- ^ a b "Melinda Hildebrand". Upper Snowmass Creek Caucus. August 30, 2019. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
- ^ Grunau, Sarah (February 7, 2025). "Trump taps Houston philanthropist Melinda Hildebrand to be U.S. ambassador to Costa Rica". Houston Public Media. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
- ^ Times, Tico (February 7, 2025). "Melinda Hildebrand Nominated as Next U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica". The Tico Times. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
- ^ "Hildebrand, Melinda – Republic of Costa Rica – June 2025". United States Department of State. June 12, 2025. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
- ^ a b "Melinda Hildebrand Bio". James Beard Foundation. August 26, 2024. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
- ^ Grieder, Erica (August 26, 2025). "Who is Houston billionaire Melinda Hildebrand, Trump's pick for U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica?". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
- ^ Hodge, Shelby (February 7, 2025). "Donald Trump Names Houston's Mindy Hildebrand As His Latest U.S. Ambassador Pick, Name Drops the Beloved River Oaks Donuts". PaperCity Magazine. Retrieved September 26, 2025.