Virtual Seminar Series
2024 Inside U.S. Foreign Policy Leading Voices Seminars
This series from USA Study Abroad within the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs aims to give participants an inside look at how the State Department furthers foreign policy goals around the world by hearing from some of the world’s foremost experts and leading voices. See below for seminar descriptions and recordings.
COMMUNICATING U.S. FOREIGN POLICY TO DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCES
December 4, 2024
This seminar explored how U.S. State Department spokespeople shape narratives and communicate American foreign policy to a variety of audiences. The program delved into the strategies and best practices employed by public affairs officers to convey American priorities, values, and policy goals to domestic and international audiences. The leading voice speaker, State Department Deputy Spokesperson, Mignon Houston, explained how the State Department crafts talking points for domestic and international audiences to ensure accurate coverage of U.S. foreign policy priorities by major international media. She was joined by Samuel Werberg, Arabic Language Spokesperson and Director of the Dubai Media Hub.
Perspectives on transnational crime & global criminal justice
April 16, 2024
This seminar explored the subject of transnational crime and global criminal justice with one of the world’s foremost experts on international criminal law and human rights, Dr. Beth Van Schaack, the Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice (GCJ) in the Office of Global Criminal Justice. As a leading voice on this topic, Ambassador Van Schaack, addressed how the State Department works closely with other governments, international institutions, and nongovernmental organizations to establish and assist international and domestic commissions of inquiry, fact-finding missions, and tribunals to investigate, document, and prosecute atrocities in every region of the globe. She was joined by Samuel Downing, Senior Country Officer for France and Monaco in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs.
2022 Inside U.S. Foreign Policy Seminars
The 2022 Inside U.S. Foreign Policy series was a virtual series that offered insight into how the State Department furthers U.S. foreign policy goals around the world and the Department’s efforts to combat climate change, secure the global food supply, foster entrepreneurship, and promote other important foreign policy priorities on behalf of the American people. See below for seminar descriptions and recordings.
Technology, Innovation, and the CHIPS Act
February 1, 2024
This seminar explores the subject of Technology, Innovation, and the CHIPS Act and how the State Department advances U.S. foreign policy interests through its work in science, technology, and innovation (STI). The State Department strives to anticipate the foreign policy impacts of scientific research, discoveries, development, and innovations and connect domestic and international STI enterprises to promote U.S. priorities.
GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY
November 29, 2023
This seminar explores the subject of global food security and how the State Department advances U.S. foreign policy interests through its work on leading and coordinating U.S. diplomatic engagement on food systems, food security, and nutrition in bilateral, multilateral, and regional fora. The State Department strives to identify, analyze, and act on emerging food systems and nutrition issues, develop new initiatives, and foster U.S. interagency cooperation and broad stakeholder engagement, through partnerships with the private sector, civil society, research institutions, and other donors.
Global Public Health
November 7, 2023
This seminar explores the subject of global public health and how the State Department advances U.S. foreign policy interests through its work on strengthening global health security to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious diseases in the United States and around the world. The State Department strives to protect the United States and the world from health threats, by leading U.S. diplomatic engagements, leveraging and coordinating U.S. foreign assistance, and promoting international cooperation at the national, regional, and multilateral levels.
Global Equity and Racial Justice
May 19, 2023
This seminar explores the subject of global equity and racial justice and how the State Department advances U.S. foreign policy interests in protecting and advancing the human rights of people belonging to marginalized racial and ethnic communities and in combating systemic racism, discrimination, and xenophobia around the world. The State Department strives to promote and protect the rights of individuals and communities who are oppressed because of their race or ethnicity and create a just world where all people are valued, included, and able to live up to their full potential.
Refugees and Migration
April 7, 2023
This seminar explores the subject of refugees and migration and how the State Department advances U.S. foreign policy interests in providing protection, easing suffering, and resolving the plight of persecuted and forcibly displaced people around the world. Focus was on the humanitarian impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Climate and COP 27
February 2, 2023
This seminar explores how the State Department advances U.S. foreign policy goals on climate change, with a specific focus on the process and outcomes of the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties of the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference or “COP 27” held in November 2022 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
From Study Abroad to the State Department: How Developing Global Perspectives Supports U.S. Foreign Policy
November 18, 2022
This webinar features an interview with Secretary of State Antony Blinken exploring how U.S. diplomatic work impacts the lives of the American people and how studying abroad furthers the State Department’s foreign policy mission, as well as a panel of American diplomats exploring how U.S. diplomatic work impacts the lives of the American people and how studying abroad furthers the State Department’s foreign policy mission.
2025 Inside U.S. Foreign Policy Leading Voices
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2025 Inside U.S. Foreign Policy Leading Voices
