USA Study Abroad, part of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, is pleased to present a new Inside U.S. Foreign Policy free virtual series. The goal of the series is to provide American undergraduate and graduate students with an inside look at how the State Department designs and implements U.S. foreign policy around the world. Students from all fields of study and backgrounds are invited to attend. Through six seminars, each focused on a specific world region, participants will learn directly from civil and foreign service officers about:
- The State Department’s foreign policy goals for that region,
- How offices in Washington, D.C. and U.S. embassies and consulates overseas work to further these goals, and
- How this work impacts Americans.
Each seminar will also include a panel of Gilman alumni working in the region, who will discuss their careers, and a breakout networking session. Each seminar will last for three hours and will be followed by an optional 30-minute informational session on the variety of careers within the U.S. State Department.
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Inside U.S. Foreign Policy Seminars
How U.S. Foreign Policy is Made
June 2, 12:00pm-12:45pm EST
View the RECORDING FOR HOW U.S. FOREIGN POLICY IS MADE
Join U.S. Foreign Service Officer Amanda Beck for a 45-minute webinar exploring how U.S. foreign policy is made. Topics covered will include:
- How various U.S. government agencies cooperate on foreign policy,
- The various tools the U.S. government uses to advance its foreign policy goals, and
- The role of the State Department and U.S. embassies in formulating and implementing foreign policy.
Amanda Beck is an Economic Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Amman, Jordan, covering finance, banking, and sanctions issues. Prior to Amman, she served in the Political and Economic Section at the U.S. Embassy in Nicosia, Cyprus, first as Deputy Political Chief and later as Assistance Coordinator during the 2015-16 Cyprus settlement talks. At the State Department headquarters, she worked as a Desk Officer in the Office of Pakistan Affairs and the Office of the Coordinator for Assistance to Europe and Eurasia. Her first assignment was as a Consular Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Guayaquil, Ecuador. A San Diego native, she holds a B.S. in International Politics from Georgetown University and an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.
U.S. Foreign Policy in South and Central Asia
June 9, 10:00am-1:30pm EST
This 3.5 hour seminar will explore how the State Department advances foreign policy and builds relations with the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
Learn directly from diplomats working in public diplomacy, political affairs, strategic planning, and other areas about their work and careers. Click here to download the biographies of Speakers of U.S. Foreign Policy in South and Central Asia. Sessions will include:
- U.S. Foreign Policy in South and Central Asia: Three representatives with a range of portfolios from the State Department’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs will discuss how the department plans and implements foreign policy in the region as a whole.
- U.S. Foreign Policy in India: Foreign Service Officers from the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi will discuss U.S. foreign policy goals in India and how they advance both country-specific and regional priorities on the ground.
- From Gilman Scholar to Foreign Affairs Practitioner: Gilman alumni working with foreign affairs in South and Central Asia will offer insights into their careers and how they leveraged their global experiences to advance to their current positions.
- Career Conversations: Participants will have the opportunity to move into breakout rooms and learn in greater detail from speakers about their diverse work and career paths.
- State Department Careers Information Session: During this optional session at the end of the event, representatives from the State Department’s Bureau of Global Talent Management will share information on the many pathways to careers at the State Department.
U.S. Foreign Policy in North Africa and the Middle East
July 14, 11:00AM – 2:30pm et
Inside U.S. Foreign Policy in North Africa and the Middle East will explore how the State Department advances foreign policy and builds relations with Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian Territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
Learn directly from diplomats working in public diplomacy, political affairs, strategic planning, and other areas about their work and careers. Click here to download the biographies of Speakers of U.S. Foreign Policy in North Africa and the Middle East. Sessions will include:
- U.S. Foreign Policy in North Africa and the Middle East: Representatives from the State Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs with a range of portfolios will discuss how the department plans and implements foreign policy in the region as a whole.
- U.S. Foreign Policy in Morocco: Foreign Service Officers serving in Morocco will discuss U.S. foreign policy goals in Morocco and how they advance both country-specific and regional priorities on the ground.
- From Gilman Scholar to Foreign Affairs Practitioner: Gilman alumni working with foreign affairs in North Africa and the Middle East will offer insights into their careers and how they leveraged their global experiences to advance to their current positions.
- Career Conversations: Participants will have the opportunity to move into breakout rooms and hear more closely from speakers about their diverse work and career paths.
- State Department Careers Information Session: During this optional session at the end of the event, representatives from the State Department’s Bureau of Global Talent Management will share information on the many pathways to careers at the State Department.
U.S. Foreign Policy in Sub-Saharan Africa
July 29, 11:00AM – 2:30PM et
Inside U.S. Foreign Policy in Sub-Saharan Africa will explore how the State Department advances foreign policy and builds relations with the countries of Sub-Saharan Africa.
Learn directly from diplomats working in public diplomacy, political affairs, strategic planning, and other areas about their work and careers. Click here to download the biographies of Speakers of U.S. Foreign Policy in Sub-Saharan Africa. Sessions will include:
- U.S. Foreign Policy in Sub-Saharan Africa: Representatives from the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs with a range of portfolios will discuss how the department plans and implements foreign policy in the region as a whole.
- U.S. Foreign Policy in Tanzania: Foreign Service Officers serving at the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam will discuss U.S. foreign policy goals in Tanzania and how they advance both country-specific and regional priorities on the ground.
- From Gilman Scholar to Foreign Affairs Practitioner: Gilman alumni working with foreign affairs in Sub-Saharan Africa will offer insights into their careers and how they leveraged their global experiences to advance to their current positions.
- Career Conversations: Participants will have the opportunity to move into breakout rooms and hear more closely from speakers about their diverse work and career paths.
- State Department Careers Information Session: During this optional session at the end of the event, representatives from the State Department’s Bureau of Global Talent Management will share information on the many pathways to careers at the State Department.
U.S. Foreign Policy in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada
august 20, 1:00PM – 4:30PM et
Inside U.S. Foreign Policy in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada will explore how the State Department advances foreign policy and builds relations with countries such as Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Venezuela. Learn directly from diplomats and domestic foreign affairs professionals working with migration issues, trade and economic development, countering malign influence, promoting diversity and inclusion, and other areas as they discuss their work and careers. Click here to download the biographies of Speakers of U.S. Foreign Policy in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada. Sessions will include:
- U.S. Foreign Policy in the Western Hemisphere (Latin America, the Caribbean and Canada): Representatives from the State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs with a range of portfolios will discuss how the Department plans and implements foreign policy in the region.
- U.S. Foreign Policy in Mexico: Foreign Service Officers serving in Mexico will discuss U.S. foreign policy goals in Mexico and how they advance both country-specific and regional priorities on the ground and how those efforts directly impact and benefit Americans.
- From Gilman Scholar to Foreign Affairs Practitioner: Gilman alumni working with foreign affairs in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada will offer insights into their careers and how they leveraged their global experiences to advance to their current positions.
- Career Conversations: Participants will have the opportunity to move into breakout rooms and hear more closely from speakers about their diverse work and career paths.
- State Department Careers Information Session: During this optional session at the end of the event, representatives from the State Department’s Bureau of Global Talent Management will share information on the many pathways to careers at the State Department.
U.S. Foreign Policy in East Asia and the Pacific
september 15, 10:00 am-1:30 pm ET
Inside U.S. Foreign Policy in East Asia and the Pacific will explore how the State Department advances foreign policy and builds relations with countries such as Australia, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, and the People’s Republic of China. Learn directly from diplomats working in public diplomacy, political affairs, science and technology, and other areas about their work and careers. Click here to download the biographies of Speakers of U.S. Foreign Policy in East Asia and the Pacific. Sessions will include:
- 10:00am EST – Welcome and Policy Overview
- 10:15am EST – U.S. Foreign Policy in Thailand: Foreign Service Officers from the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok will discuss U.S. foreign policy goals in Thailand and how they advance both country-specific and regional priorities on the ground.
- 11:10am EST – U.S. Foreign Policy in East Asia and the Pacific: Three representatives from the State Department’s Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs with a range of portfolios will discuss how the department plans and implements foreign policy in the region as a whole.
- 12:05pm EST – From Gilman Scholar to Foreign Affairs Practitioner: Gilman alumni working with foreign affairs in East Asia and the Pacific will offer insights into their careers and how they leveraged their global experiences to advance to their current positions.
- 12:30pm EST – Career Conversations: Participants will have the opportunity to move into breakout rooms and hear more closely from speakers about their diverse work and career paths.
- 1:00pm EST – State Department Careers Information Session: Representatives from the State Department’s Bureau of Global Talent Management will share information on the many pathways to careers at the State Department for interested students.
U.S. Foreign Policy in Europe
december 2, 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM ET
Inside U.S. Foreign Policy in Europe will explore how the State Department develops and implements U.S. foreign policy in Europe and Eurasia and promotes U.S. interests in the region on issues such as international security, NATO, coordination with the European Union and other regional organizations, support for democracy, human rights, civil society, economic prosperity, counterterrorism, and nonproliferation.
Learn directly from diplomats working in public diplomacy, political affairs, science and technology, and other areas about their work and careers. Click here to download the biographies of Speakers of U.S. Foreign Policy in Europe. Sessions will include:
- 11:00am EST – Welcome and Policy Overview
- 11:15am EST – U.S. Foreign Policy in Europe: Three representatives from the State Department’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs with a range of portfolios will discuss how the Department plans and implements foreign policy in the region as a whole.
- 12:10pm EST – U.S. Foreign Policy in the U.K.: Foreign Service Officers from the U.S. Embassy in London will discuss U.S. foreign policy goals in the U.K. and how they advance both country-specific and regional priorities on the ground.
- 1:05pm EST – From Study Abroad to the State Department: Gilman alumni working in foreign affairs in Europe will offer insights into their careers and how they leveraged their global experiences to advance to their current positions.
- 1:30pm EST – Career Conversations: Participants will have the opportunity to move into breakout rooms and hear more closely from speakers about their diverse work and career paths.
- 2:00pm EST – State Department Careers Information Session: Representatives from the State Department’s Bureau of Global Talent Management will share information on the many pathways to careers at the State Department.