WASHINGTON- For the second year in a row, a select group of undergraduate students got a first-hand chance to learn about international diplomacy through a program sponsored by the U.S. State Department.
The students visited internationally focused government and non-government agencies to learn about various career opportunities available in foreign affairs as part of the Cox-State Department Diplomacy Seminar. The nonprofit Una Chapman Cox Foundation partnered with the Close Up Foundation and the State Department to cover the costs for students.
“This program is about increased awareness of the opportunities available to them at the state department, foreign service in particular and exposure to Washington D.C.,” said Meredith Polm, curriculum design and program development specialist at the Close Up Foundation.
The theme of this year’s professional development program was “Why Diplomacy Matters” and over 500 students applied for only 27 coveted spots.
Last week, the students listened to stories and advice from ambassadors, detailing their abroad experiences. Many of the students held dual citizenships, were majoring in international studies, had parents who worked in public service or came from immigrant families. When asked how many spoke a second language fluently, a majority of the group raised their hand.
Carol Perez, director general of the foreign service and director of human resources at the State Department offered advice to the students and described the agency’s recruitment process.
“Mentors are wonderful but you need sponsors,” she told them. “They have the vision to see something that you don’t see in yourself and they have the power to get you there. The key are sponsors.”
