The Walter Roberts Endowment and the Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication (IPDGC) are proud to announce that Global Communication graduate student Nikki Hinshaw is receiving this year’s award.
Each year, the Walter Roberts Endowment recognizes a GW graduate student who shows exemplary performance in public diplomacy studies and has aspirations for a future career in this field.
Ms. Hinshaw is graduating with a master’s in Global Communication and concentrations in Public Diplomacy and International Education. She developed a love for the field of international education and exchange after studying abroad in Ghana, and interning for exchange programs at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the International Center for Journalists, and the Institute of International Education, amongst others.
Ms. Hinshaw fostered her research interests in virtual exchange, domestic dimensions of public diplomacy, disinformation and media capacity-building, and diversity, equity, and inclusion through her capstone, coursework, and research assistantship in GSHED’s Global Education Lab.
Professor Patricia Kabra who teaches Public Diplomacy and the Communication and Modern Diplomacy seminars at the School of Media and Public Affairs, noted: “Nikki Hinshaw is one of those students who has pursued, at every opportunity, an avenue leading to PD. From work and internships at the Department of State, IIE, the International Center for Journalists to Sister Cities, she has packed in more experience than seems possible over the last few years.”
Again, congratulations to Nikki, and all the best to the 2022 graduating cohort of the MA Global Communication program.
GW graduate students in international affairs encouraged to apply
The Walter Roberts Endowment (WRE) is happy to announce that the submissions period is open for the student award for Public Diplomacy Studies for 2nd year graduate students at the Elliott School of International Affairs.
Since 2011, the Endowment has awarded the Walter Roberts Public Diplomacy Studies Award to a graduating student from the Master’s programs at the GW Elliott School of International Affairs, for academic excellence and professional aspirations in public diplomacy. The Award is recognized at the Commencement ceremony of the Elliott School and offers a $1000 prize to the successful student.
All applicants must be enrolled as full-time second-year students in graduate programs at the Elliott School of International Affairs.
The deadline for submission for the Student Award is Wednesday, April 6 by 11:59 pm EST
Applicants of this award need to provide:
A resume
A 500-word essay on your goals for pursuing further studies or careers based on your PD courses.
A short email/ letter of support from a GWU professor sent directly to ipdgc@gwu.edu
(Subject: NAME OF STUDENT: “PD Studies Award 2021” or “Summer Internship grant”)
Please email the submission materials, or any questions, to IPDGC@gwu.edu
The Walter Roberts Endowment and the Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication (IPDGC) are proud to announce that Global Communication graduates Saiansha Panangipalli and Halea Kerr-Layton are the joint recipients of the Walter Roberts Award for Public Diplomacy Studies for 2021.
Each year, the Walter Roberts Endowment recognizes a GW graduate student who shows exemplary performance in public diplomacy studies and has aspirations for a future career in this field. This year, we recognize two exceptional students.
Both Ms. Panangipalli and Ms. Kerr-Layton have demonstrated their passion for public diplomacy with internships at diplomatic missions and non-profits; working to advance government relationships and strengthening ties with foreign publics through educational and professional exchanges, and other programs.
Ms. Panangipalli used her brilliant writing and strategic planning skills at her internships with the Embassy of India in Washington, D.C., the Moroccan Embassy in New Delhi, and at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on the kind of work that exemplifies the spirit and intention of the Walter Roberts Award.
I aim for a career with opportunities to widen my exposure to countries and cultures, adapt to new cultural and historical constraints, and tell stories that inform and engage audiences across borders.
— Saiansha Panangipalli
Ms. Kerr-Layton demonstrated her outstanding leadership as a GW Presidential Fellow and in roles ranging from Strategic Outreach and Engagement Coordinator at Sustainable GW to Billingual Storytelling Associate at DC public school Mundo Verde. She was able to put into practice her public diplomacy skills working as an intern with Global Ties US, the oldest non-profit citizen diplomacy organization, last summer.
I have worked to advance the values of integrity, inclusion, diversity, and justice as I believe they are a foundation for cultural expression and community engagement. I choose to specialize in Public Diplomacy to master the skill of strategic communication in our contemporary world to create enduring change.
– Halea Kerr-Layton
Last year’s winner was Chaniqua Nelson, Foreign Service Officer at the U.S. State Department.
The Walter Roberts Endowment (WRE) is happy to announce that the submissions period is open for the WRE summer internship grants and the Walter Roberts Public Diplomacy Studies for 2nd-year graduate students at the Elliott School of International Affairs.
WRE Summer Internship grants
The Endowment and the Institute for Public Diplomacy will continue to support undergraduate and graduate students at the George Washington University with internship grants totaling $15,000 or support opportunities to undertake internships in public diplomacy programs during summer 2021.
There will be five (5) grants of up to $3,000 which will be awarded to students for work on IPDGC projects, to support unfunded internships or similar opportunities in public diplomacy (as determined by the WRE).
The deadline for submission for the Internship Grant is SATURDAY, MAY 1 by 11:59 pm EST
Walter Roberts Public Diplomacy Studies Award
Since 2011, the Endowment has awarded the Walter Roberts Public Diplomacy Studies Award to a graduating student from the Master’s programs at the GW Elliott School of International Affairs, for academic excellence and professional aspirations in public diplomacy. The Award is recognized at the Commencement ceremony of the Elliott School and offers a $1000 prize to the successful student.
All applicants must be enrolled as full-time second-year students in graduate programs at the Elliott School of International Affairs and have taken a class in public diplomacy.
The deadline for submission for the Student Award is FRIDAY, APRIL 16 by 11:59 pm EST
Materials for Application
Applicants for the Internship Grant OR StudentAward need to provide:
A resume
A 500-word essay on your goals for pursuing further studies or careers based on your PD courses.
ADDITIONAL INFO the Summer Internship grant – please include information of the internship that you have: letter of acceptance, description of duties, duration of internship.
A short email/ letter of support from a GWU professor sent directly to ipdgc@gwu.edu (Subject: NAME OF STUDENT: “PD Studies Award 2021” or “Summer Internship grant”) The deadline for this email follows the deadline for the support being applied.
Applications for both award or grant need to be submitted to ipdgc@gwu.edu with the subject line “PD Studies Award 2021” or “Summer Internship grant 2021”.
For any questions: please contact IPDGC ipdgc@gwu.edu
The Walter Roberts Endowment and the Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication (IPDGC) is proud to congratulate Chaniqua D. Nelson for being the recipient of the Walter Roberts Award for Public Diplomacy Studies for 2020.
Each year, the Walter Roberts Endowment grants $1,000 to a GW graduate student who shows exemplary performance in public diplomacy studies, and has aspirations for a future career in this field. Ms. Nelson, a Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Graduate Fellow, shared that she had always wanted a job that involved building relationships between the United States and other countries. After her commencement, Ms. Nelson will launch her career as a Public Diplomacy Officer with the U.S. Department of State.
Here’s a short interview with our 2020 Walter Roberts PD Studies award recipient:
What experiences motivated/ inspired you to choose this career path?
In 2012, I had the opportunity to volunteer for the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). That volunteer opportunity led me to meet some amazing Foreign Service Officers who were working to assist the next generation of African Leaders. I remember interacting with both YALI participants and U.S. Foreign Service Officers at a reception hosted at the Meridian International Center, thinking: ‘this is what I want to do for the rest of my life’ – assisting with expanding and strengthening the relationship between the United States and other countries. Later, I had lunch with the Diplomat-in-Residence at the time, Ambassador Eunice Reddick. She shared her story with me, of what led her to the Foreign Service and encouraged me to take the Foreign Service Officer Test and apply to the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Graduate Fellowship. It took a couple of years after my encounter with Ambassador Reddick, to decide on pursuing a career in the Foreign Service. I honestly thought that I didn’t have what it takes to be a Foreign Service Officer – I didn’t know a lot of foreign languages and I didn’t participate in prestigious fellowships/scholarship programs like the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program or the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. However, it wasn’t until I participated in the Overseas Development Program for civil servants at the Department of State, where I served as an office management specialist in the Public Affairs Section at U.S. Embassy Beijing, that I realized that I could do this as well. I was extremely fortunate to have supervisors who cared about my development. So, when I got the courage to ask Minister-Counselor for Public Affairs Lisa Heller and the now Director of the Office of International Visitors Program Anne Grimes to write me a recommendation for the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Graduate Fellowship, both immediately said yes. I am extremely thankful to Ambassador Reddick, Minister-Counselor Lisa Heller, Director Anne Grimes, and a long list of others for their encouragement. Their belief and support had inspired me to apply for the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Graduate Fellowship and attend the George Washington University!
What have you enjoyed about your graduate studies at GW?
I have enjoyed learning about the intricacies of public diplomacy on a micro and macro level. What is special about the George Washington University, in particular the Global Communication program, is its ability to merge theory with practice. In Dr. Patricia Kabra’s Public Diplomacy class, we did everything a public diplomacy practitioner would do including writing speeches, press simulations, and developing a public diplomacy strategy for our embassy. In addition, I have also enjoyed learning about becoming a more compassionate and effective leader through my elective courses at the Department of Management within the School of Business.
What will you be doing after graduation?
After graduation, I will join the Foreign Service as a Public Diplomacy Officer. As of right now, I am unsure where I will be stationed. However, I am excited to explain U.S. history, cultures, and values to foreign audiences and promote educational and culture exchange abroad.
Thirteen years ago, the Walter Roberts Endowment was established with generous contributions from Dr. Roberts and the Roberts family. The Endowment was to ensure continued support for public diplomacy through higher learning and research, recognition of leadership and shared best PD practices.
The Endowment has assisted in funding activities of the Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication (IPDGC) at the George Washington University.
The Annual Walter Roberts Lecture for 2020 will feature Dr. Joseph S. Nye, who, 30 years ago, originated the term “soft power” in describing the persuasive approach in U.S. foreign policy. The Lecture will be held on January 30, 2020, at the Elliott School for International Affairs.
The Endowment continues to support IPDGC’s Walter Roberts Award for Congressional Leadership in Public Diplomacy, which honors members of Congress who have been consistently supportive of public diplomacy throughout their careers. These awards support public diplomacy micro-projects in institutions situated in the member’s state or congressional district.
The Endowment also encourages GW graduate students to excel in public diplomacy studies. Hence, to move ahead, we are trying to increase the size of the Endowment to allow us to provide grants to graduate students who could not otherwise afford to study public diplomacy at GW.
We encourage you to join with the Roberts family in continuing to support the vital public diplomacy outreach work that the Endowment underwrites.