McCourt, SFS Host Diversity & Leadership in Public Service Forum

Twenty-two undergraduates and recent college graduates visited the Hilltop for the “Global Leaders Forum: World Affairs and the Changing Landscape,” an event designed to expose students to careers and issues in diplomacy, global culture, and international affairs.

Through professional development workshops, facilitated group activities, and lectures the students learned about potential careers in foreign service, public policy, and international relations. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, a member of the Career Foreign Service and the Senior State Department Fellow at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University, was the keynote speaker for the weekend. In addition, McCourt and SFS hosted a cross-sector alumni panel discussion, in which alumni spoke to students about their experiences working in these fields and the opportunities and resources available to Georgetown students and alumni pursuing related careers.

Leadership from McCourt and SFS were present during the weekend to welcome students and facilitate lectures. As Associate Dean Barbara Schone of McCourt noted, “These future policy leaders brought a tremendous amount of interest and enthusiasm to the program. We were thrilled to welcome these students to the Hilltop, and hope we’ve piqued their interest in becoming Hoyas one day. The McCourt School shares PPIA’s commitment to diversifying the next generation of public servants.”

PPIA’s mission is to promote the inclusion and full participation of underrepresented groups in public service and to advance their leadership roles throughout our civic institutions serving domestic and international affairs.Senior Associate Dean Tony Arend of SFS highlighted the importance of this in today’s political landscape, “”We are living through one of the most tumultuous periods in the history of the international system. It is clear that the world needs new, innovative leaders to forge a path in these uncertain times. Programs like PPIA seek to train just such new leaders. The Walsh School of Foreign Service is honored to partner with the McCourt School of Public Policy to help PPIA fulfill this mission.”