Virginia Evelyn Palmer[1] (born 1963) is an American diplomat who has served as the United States ambassador to Ghana since 2022.

When she was nominated by President Barack Obama to be U.S. ambassador to Malawi, she was deputy chief of mission at the U.S. embassy in Pretoria, a position she had held since 2011.

The American Foreign Service Association expressed concern that delays in Senate proceedings were putting the U.S. at risk because of the absence of ambassadors in countries engaged in "the war on Ebola", the killer virus which dominated the 2014 United States–Africa Leaders Summit.

[6] After assuming her role as Malawi ambassador, Palmer became vocal in defense of civil rights for gay couples in the country.

Palmer was appointed as the acting assistant secretary of state for energy resources on January 20, 2021, by President Joe Biden.

[8] On July 2, 2021, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Palmer to be the next United States Ambassador to Ghana.