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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Adding Value into Education: Transforming Leaders

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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. Rishitha Jaladi of India spoke with Meridian’s Center for Global Leadership to reflect on his experience and its impact. Jaladi participated in the Summer 2021 virtual Institute on Youth, Education, and the Future of Work...

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Discovering Your Potential: From SUSI Participant to Community Leader

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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. Xavier Nhaule of Mozambique spoke with Meridian’s Center for Global Leadership to reflect on his experience and its impact. Nhaule is the Executive Director of Banco de Alimentos de Moçambique Association. This year’s International Day...

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Public Diplomacy Strengthens Democracies

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It has been one year since the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and the day still looms over the diplomatic community. Dozens of countries and international institutions condemned the violence. Foreign leaders and diplomats followed suit with many calling it for what it was – an attack on democracy.      Eleven months later, U.S. President Biden emphasized the need to restore democracy in all its facets, calling it the defining challenge of our time at the inaugural Summit for Democracy in December 2021. However, his tone remained largely optimistic, saying, “Democracy — government of the people, by the people, for the people — can...

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