Analysis| When recruiting the diplomats of the 21st century, start at community colleges

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This post was written by Nicholas Shafer of Global Community College Transfers, one of Meridian’s DiplomacyRISE partners. It was originally published in “The Diplomatic Pouch” at Georgetown’s Institute for the Study of Diplomacy.    This piece is part of ISD’s blog series, “A better diplomacy,” which highlights innovators and their ideas for how to make diplomacy more effective, resilient, and adaptive in the 21st century. Diplomacy is, at least in a democracy, about representing the people. Across the U.S. foreign affairs workforce, there is a crisis of representation– as of 2020, the Senior Foreign Service was 80% white, with only 6.2% Black...

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Women in Science: From IVLP to Opportunities in STEM

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To celebrate International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we are highlighting Sotheavy At, Strategic Communications Specialist at DAI Global/USAID Digital Asia Accelerator and alumna of the U.S. Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP).   How has participating in international exchange for STEM issues transformed your life, career, or education? Did any new opportunities arise from this experience? Before the visit, I thought that only women and girls in developing countries like Cambodia faced barriers to pursue STEM-education and STEM-related work. From my visit, I quickly learned that most women and girls share the same journey...

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Women in Science: Creating Women Who Dare

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Mrs. Pong Limsam

To celebrate International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we are highlighting Pong Limsan, CEO and Founder of First Womentech Asia and alumna of the U.S. Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP).   How has participating in international exchange for STEM issues transformed your life, career, or education? Did any new opportunities arise from this experience? The “Advancing Women’s Participation in the Technology Sector” IVLP program was a wonderfully magnificent experience for me not only as a woman but as a business leader. It complemented my path to be a woman who believes, dares and maintains...

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An eye on our most vulnerable

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Meer Ahsan Habib is a National Consultant – Communication Specialist, National Adaptation Plan Process at UNDP Bangladesh and 2021 participant in the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) project, “Transparency and Accountability in Government for the Indo-Pacific.” Habib develops the communications strategy of the National Adaptation Plan of Bangladesh. By engaging policy experts and the public, he provides policy analysis and suggestions to create an inclusive National Adaptation Plan and comprehensive position papers on climate change adaptation for Bangladesh’s Department of Environment. Habib is also a freelance columnist for several media outlets and has written numerous op-ed...

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Cultural Immersion and Personal Growth through International Education

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To celebrate International Education Day, we are highlighting our many inspiring alumni from our Study of U.S. Institutes (SUSI) for Global Student Leaders program. Through partnerships with five U.S. universities and a series of interactive classroom activities, community-based projects and site visits to U.S. cities of all sizes, SUSI students experience an in-depth investigation into program themes and enhance their understanding of American values. Fábio Moisés Komba spoke with Meridian’s Center for Global Leadership to reflect on his experience and its impact.  This year’s International Day of Education theme is, “Changing Course, Transforming Education.” How has participating in SUSI...

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