PD Fellows – The Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication

October 7, 2022November 1, 2022

Recognizing a forgotten hero in US diplomatic history

Flier for "A Diplomat of Consequence" film screening event

IPDGC screens documentary on Ambassador Ebenezer D. Bassett

The film, A Diplomat of Consequence, tells the story of a groundbreaking diplomat and pioneer on international human rights and examines the legacy of racial diversity today, 150 years after his appointment. This documentary was written, directed and produced by Christopher Teal. He is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the U.S. State Department and currently a Public Diplomacy Fellow with IPDGC at the George Washington University.

Ebenezer Don Carlos Bassett was appointed United States Ambassador to Haiti in 1869. He was the first African-American diplomat and the fourth U.S. ambassador to Haiti since the two countries established relations in 1862. Bassett was appointed as new leaders emerged among free African Americans after the American Civil War.

Collage of 4 photos and drawings of Ebenezer Don Carlos Bassett

The documentary explores Bassett’s roles as He was an educator, abolitionist, and civil rights activist.

He was among the earliest advocates to promote human rights in foreign policy. His courage in the face of threats during his tenure place him among the greats of diplomatic and American history. Along with public archives on Bassett’s life, newly found information from family members and never before seen material from his four-decade relationship with Frederick Douglass are explored in the documentary.

This is not just an historical documentary, however. Bassett’s legacy demonstrates to broader audiences what diplomats have accomplished and what they do in today’s complicated environment. Bringing in contemporary voices of minority diplomats is a crucial component of why diversity in foreign affairs still is imperative for successful engagement today.

FILM SCREENING: A Diplomat of Consequence; Tuesday, October 18,

IPDGC, in collaboration with LEAP and the Office of Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and student organization, Young Black Professionals in International Affairs (YBPIA), invites you to the screening of the film, A Diplomat of Consequence.

Following the screening will be a panel discussion with the filmmaker Chris Teal, Stacy Williams Deputy Director of the Haitian Affairs Office, State Department, and Celeste Robertson, retired USAID Officer. The discussion will be moderated by Dr. William Youmans, Director of IPDGC.

Event Details:

Tuesday, October 18; 5-7pm

Lindner Room 602, Elliott School, 1957 E St NW, Washington, DC 20052

Pizza and sodas are provided. RSVPs required for the event.

August 16, 2022September 23, 2022

IPDGC introduces the 2022-2023 PD Fellow

Christopher Teal speaks on camera while seated

IPDGC and the GW School of Media and Public Affairs welcomes Christopher Teal, the U.S. State Department Public Diplomacy Fellow for the 2022-2024 academic years. Chris has been with the U.S. State Department since 1999; handling various responsibilities including overseas assignments, leading a team responsible for diplomatic Career Development, and also teaching diplomacy, civil/military relations, human rights, peace keeping, and media/security policy.

Man seated in a chair speaking. — *Christopher Teal*

Chris was also awarded the Una Chapman Cox Fellowship to direct, write, and produce a documentary on the first African American diplomat, Ebenezer D. Bassett. The film, A Diplomat of Consequence, tells the story of this groundbreaking diplomat 150 years after his appointment.

IPDGC recently spoke to Chris about coming back to GW:

Learn more about our new PD Fellow Chris Teal, and other Public Diplomacy Fellows.

August 15, 2022August 15, 2022

IPDGC introduces the 2022-2024 PD Fellow

IPDGC and the GW School of Media and Public Affairs welcomes Christopher Teal, the U.S. State Department Public Diplomacy Fellow for the 2022-2024 academic years.

Chris has been with the U.S. State Department since 1999; handling various responsibilities including overseas assignments, leading a team responsible for diplomatic Career Development, and also teaching diplomacy, civil/military relations, human rights, peace keeping, and media/security policy.

IPDGC recently spoke to Chris about coming back to GW:

Learn more about our new PD Fellow Chris Teal, and other Public Diplomacy Fellows.

November 7, 2019July 7, 2022

Panel: Work-Life Balance in a 24/7 Organization

At this panel event moderated by Public Diplomacy Fellow Emilia Puma (at right), Foreign Service Officers shared their experiences on maintaining a balance with work and life as they represent the United States in different parts of the world.

With varied experiences from length of service, to the regions served, job functions, personal and family needs – six Foreign Service Officers spoke on what they had to consider when making the choice to join, and continue, with a career that never “rests”. They shared how they surmounted those challenges and also enjoyed the benefits that came with the job.

The audience of students and a handful of former diplomats participated in the lively discussion.

Emilia Puma introduces the panel of foreign service officers speaking on how they balance their lives with the commitment to a near-24/7 career.

July 25, 2019July 7, 2022

Emilia A. Puma

Emilia Puma (in yellow) with Rumsfeld Fellows visitng the U.S. State Department

Public Diplomacy Fellow, 2019-2021

Emilia A. Puma is the GW Visiting State Department Public Diplomacy Fellow for the 2019 – 2021 academic year.

Ms. Puma is a 28-year veteran of the U.S. foreign service. She holds the rank of Minister Counselor. Ms. Puma began her career in the former United States Information Agency (USIA), where she held positions in Public Diplomacy offices in New Delhi, India; Tegucigalpa, Honduras; Calcutta, India; and Bridgetown, Barbados.

In 1999, USIA merged with the U.S. Department of State. Since then, Ms. Puma has held overseas positions as Olympics Coordinator in Turin, Italy; Cultural Affairs Officer in Ottawa, Canada; Public Affairs Officer in Pristina, Kosovo; Cultural Affairs Officer in Rome, Italy; Public Affairs Officer in Madrid, Spain.

Ms. Puma’s domestic assignments include tours in International Narcotics & Law Enforcement Affairs; the Office of the Coordinator for Assistance to Europe in the Bureau of European Affairs; Office Director for Press & Public Diplomacy in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs; and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Central Asian Affairs in the Bureau of South & Central Asian Affairs. She also served as foreign policy advisor (POLAD) for the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force.

Ms. Puma holds a B.A. in English and French literature from the University of Pennsylvania; a M.A. in English literature from UCLA; and a M.A. in French Literature from Columbia University. She is originally from Philadelphia, and remains a diehard fan of the Philadelphia Eagles!

Other PD Fellows have been:

2018-2019 Karl Stoltz

2017-2018 Robert Ogburn

2015-2015 Thomas Miller

2014-2015 Patricia Kabra

2013-2014 Jonathan Henick

June 21, 2018July 7, 2022

Karl Stoltz

Public Diplomacy Fellow, 2018-2019

Karl Stoltz is the GW Visiting State Department Public Diplomacy Fellow for the 2018 – 19 academic year. He joined the Foreign Service in 1986 and has served in Washington, D.C., Europe, Africa, East Asia and the Pacific.

Before joining GW’s Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication, Karl served as director of the State Department Office of Citizen Exchanges, located in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs from 2016 to 2018. He led a 50-person team overseeing the State Department’s cultural and artistic, sports, professional fellow and high school youth exchanges worldwide, including major exchanges of young entrepreneurs from Latin America, the Caribbean and Southeast Asia.

Karl also served in Washington, D.C. as director for public diplomacy in the State Department Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs from 2008 to 2010 and as regional exchanges coordinator in the same region from 1995 to 1997.

Overseas, Karl was deputy chief of mission, the second-ranked position, at two U.S. embassies — in Copenhagen, Denmark from 2013 to 2016 and in Yangon, Myanmar from 2005 to 2008. In the former, he was also responsible for U.S. relations with Greenland and the Faroe Islands, two regions closely linked to global climate change issues today. In the latter, he helped guide the U.S. through a time of severe regime repression and fostered the democratic forces that are playing a greater role in the country today.

Karl served overseas as minister-counselor for public affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa from 2010 – 2013 and the embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 2001 to 2005. In South Africa, he helped establish the African Regional Media Hub, engaging journalists across the continent, and several Young African Leaders programs. In Malaysia, he launched six American Corners in provincial centers and a new Fulbright English Teaching Assistant program that has brought hundreds of American college graduates to Malaysian schools to teach students in remote locations.

Karl was also cultural attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia from 1998 to 2001, during that country’s transition to democracy. He was a public affairs officer in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea from 1992 to 1995, where he helped manage U.S. relations with the nations of Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, and in Wellington and Christchurch, New Zealand from 1987 to 1989, where among other duties he served as the spokesperson for the U.S. Antarctic Program.

His first appointment as a Foreign Service officer was as an assistant press attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia from 1990 to 1992, working primarily with Russian media during the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Karl will return to Moscow in summer 2019 to serve as minister-counselor for public affairs, working closely with the U.S. ambassador to Russia to manage media, educational and cultural relations with the government and people of Russia.

Karl has a B.A. in Russian Studies and History from the University of Virginia and has done graduate study at Middlebury University and the National Foreign Affairs Training Center. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, Karl worked for Capital-Gazette Newspapers in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.

He is married to Tania Garry, originally of Wellington, New Zealand. They have one son, Ryan, who is an undergraduate at Wake Forest University, and a 15-year-old cat who has a Ph.D. in human psychology and a M.Sc. in litter box management.