PDx – IPDGC Smart Power

Student Spotlight: Mohammad Fayaz Yourish

March 4, 2024March 4, 2024Education, Global Communication, PDx, public diplomacy

Here’s a PDx interview with GW graduate student Mohammad Fayaz Yourish. He is in his final year of the MA program in Global Communication, graduating this December. As an international student who has studied in India and Italy, he shares his experiences of coming to the U.S. for graduate school. In the podcast, Fayaz reflects on his time at the George Washington University and living in the nation’s capital.

“Diversity of the GW campus is very important and I think every student must make the best of that while being at GW.”
Mohammad Fayaz Yourish, MA Global Communication, Dec 2024

From his very first semester, Fayaz has given a lot of support to IPDGC events and GW student-focused activities such as the Walter Roberts Annual Lectures which feature leading voices in global communication or public diplomacy; hosting the State Department’s International Women of Courage panel at GW, and career talks with alums of the Global Communication MA program.

Fayaz has also been working on student engagement which means attending conferences like the Global Ties US National Meeting where public diplomacy practitioners, community organizations and government agencies gather – taking the opportunity to talk to attendees about the Global Communication program at the Elliott School.

Listen to the interview with Fayaz.

And PDx is back for a new season!

October 14, 2021April 14, 2022Education, Global Communication, PDx

Our podcast kicks off with a new interviewer, graduate student Adeniyi Funsho, and an interview about Diversity and Inclusion in International Affairs.

The latest season of PDx is back!

PDx Interviewer Adeniyi Funsho, MA Media and Strategic Communications ’22

This season, our interviewer is Adeniyi Funsho, a graduate in the Media and Strategic Communications program at the School of Media and Public Affairs.

PDx – or Public Diplomacy Examined – is where we speak to the doers and thinkers in public diplomacy: the foreign service experts, the exchanges specialists, the academic observers and the supporters of international engagement and global communications.

This first podcast is with Professor Jonathan M. Walker, Senior Assistant Dean for Student Services, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the GW Elliott School of International Affairs.

Professor Jonathan M. Walker,
GW Elliott School

In this conversation, Prof. Walker talks about the benefits of fixing the higher education system that would better serve underrepresented populations, and how diversity and inclusion will improve academic study and develop the professionals needed in the current world of International Affairs.

Please do enjoy the conversation >LISTEN HERE

Showcasing American Culture

May 6, 2021PDx, public diplomacy

Delivering the message of diversity and inclusion

For our final PDx podcast for the season, we take a look at how the U.S. takes urban dance culture to other communities around the world. SMPA graduate student Victoria Makanjuola talks to Junious Brickhouse about cultural diplomacy and the challenges of sharing about representation, diversity, and inclusion – which is still a work-in-progress in the United States.

Junious Brickhouse is an internationally established, award-winning urban dance educator, choreographer, community leader, and cultural preservationist with over 20 years of experience in the field of expression and dance.

As the director of Next Level – an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is administered by Meridian International Center and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Junious is responsible for leading programs which bring people together in programs that encourages greater understanding through music.

Next Level has programs where teams of MCs, DJs, hip hop dancers, beatmakers, beatboxers, and artists conduct public concerts, interactive performances with local (foreign) musicians, lecture demonstrations, workshops, and jam sessions with diverse audiences.

He is also the founder and executive director of Urban Artistry (link to Urban Artistry: http://urbanartistry.org/), non-profit organization dedicated to the performance and preservation of art forms inspired by the urban experience in Silver Spring, Md.

Please enjoy our last podcast for the season and have a fantastic summer! Click Here for the podcast.

Head pic of graduate student Victoria Makanjuola

Victoria recently launched her own podcast, Feel Your Feelingz – for Generation Z- made by a Gen Z’er! Its purpose is to enlighten, educate, and express to the world how Victoria’s generation is coping with mental health issues.

She talks to guests about 2020, COVID-19, stress and anxiety, race, education, and more! It’s not just talk as Victoria and her guests also try to offer listeners some solutions. This podcast was created to reinforce the fact that the voice of Gen Z matters. Join Victoria to FEEL YOUR FEELINGZ together!

Click Here to learn more how the Feel You Feelingz is now part of the first-ever Mental Health Action Day on Thursday, May 20, 2021.

And thank you again to Victoria Makanjuola – Class of 2021, MA in Media and Strategic Communication. We wish you success always!

Creating connections with cultural programs

May 3, 2021May 3, 2021Cultural Diplomacy, PDx, public diplomacy

By Sydney Teabout

For this PDx podcast, GW senior Sydney Teabout speaks to Nancy Szalwinski, Director for Cultural Programs at the US Department of State.

Ms. Szalwinski has had almost two decades of experience with the U.S. Foreign Service. Her experiences have taken her to several posts in Latin America and also to Eastern Europe and Australia.

In the conversation, Sydney learns more about the goals of cultural programs and how they are part of U.S. public diplomacy.

Enjoy the PDx episode through this LINK.

Sydney Teabout is a student in the SMPA 3350 Public Diplomacy class taught by Public Diplomacy Fellow Emilia A. Puma. She is a senior studying Journalism and Mass Communication as well as American Studies.

The opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author. They do not express the views of the Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication or the George Washington University.

Building Enduring Networks: The ECA

April 1, 2021April 2, 2021Cultural Diplomacy, PDx, public diplomacy

By Brian O’Rourke

Established in 1961, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs works to establish cultural exchanges between the United States and other countries around the world. Through academic, professional, athletic, and artistic exchanges, the ECA allows people from around the world to experience life in the United States and Americans to experience life in a variety of other countries. Through these exchanges the ECA fosters deep, meaningful relations between countries and is able to advance diplomacy through genuine connection between cultures.

In this PDx interview, GW third-year student Brian O’Rourke talks to Acting Assistant Secretary Lussenhop about the importance of cultural exchange programs in US diplomacy at large and the role of public diplomacy in strengthening relationships between countries.

Matthew Lussenhop serves as the Acting Assistant Secretary of the ECA. He has served as a Foreign Service Officer since 1990. His career in Public Diplomacy has extended from serving as Public Affairs Counselor in the US Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan to the Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy to Belgium. And he has held positions in various US embassies including Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Kuwait; Muscat, Oman; Rabat, Morocco; Sofia, Bulgaria; and Manila, Philippines.

Lussenhop also discusses the importance of cultural exchange programs in US diplomacy at large and the role of public diplomacy in strengthening relationships between countries. He explains how the ECA’s cultural exchange programs have been impacted by COVID 19 and his own experience as a Foreign Service Officer.

Enjoy the PDx episode: Building enduring networks: The ECA

Brian O’Rourke is a student in the SMPA 3350 Public Diplomacy class taught by Public Diplomacy Fellow Emilia A. Puma. He is an undergraduate student in International Affairs and Political Communication, Class of 2022.

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the interviewer. They do not express the views of the Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication or the George Washington University.

Gender Equality in International Affairs

January 25, 2021February 27, 2021Education, PDx, Women

Building a better approach through research and practice

In our latest PDx episode, interviewer and SMPA grad student Victoria Makanjuola talks to Dr. Shirley Graham the director for the Gender Equality Initiative in International Affairs at the Elliott School of International Affairs. The Gender Equality Initiative in International Affairs (GEIA) is a program to encourage gender equality in all areas of global affairs, international development, political power, military strength, and government leadership.

Recognizing the absence of women from decision-making and institutional structures, is a way to acknowledge the need to include women in government and political power. Women can effectively contribute their experiences and expertise to global politics which were once traditionally regarded as male domains.

Dr. Graham shares highlights from the initiative and how the idea of gender inclusion has been gaining acceptance in academia and in practice.

Listen to the podcast HERE.

The New Globetrotter: looking for an international career

November 19, 2020November 19, 2020Global Communication, in the field, PDx, public diplomacy

In the second part of our interview with Dr. Sherry Mueller, PDx interviewer and SMPA graduate student Victoria Makanjuola learns what college students and young professionals can do to develop a global career.

In Dr. Mueller’s book titled, Working World: Careers in International Education, Exchange, and Development , she and her coauthor Mark Overmann have put together pointers, resources and useful anecdotes for college students and young professionals to use. They both push job seekers to challenge assumptions about what it means to pursue a career in international relations and to recognize that the path to career success is rarely straight.

To the university student or young professional listening to this PDx podcast, Dr. Mueller gives more insight into how they can better prepare for such a future. Go to the podcast HERE.

Public Diplomacy Council and U.S. global engagement

November 9, 2020November 9, 2020Cultural Diplomacy, Exchanges, Global Communication, IPDGC, PDx, public diplomacy

Dr. Sherry Mueller heads the Public Diplomacy Council, a non-profit organization that supports the practice, academic study and advocacy for public diplomacy. The Council looks at the engagement by U.S. Government, especially the State Department and U.S. international broadcasting, but it also observes and learn from the experience of other nations.

Dr. Mu eller talks about the Council, its activities and membership.

She promotes the role of PDC as a champion for better US engagement: “I’m a real believer that for any organization, it’s not enough to deliver good programs and services, you’ve got to try to impact the policy environment within which you function.”

At the same time, PDC is looking to encourage and support a new generation of professionals in the field: “If we’re not drawing new young people into the field and into professional associations that serve that field, we’re missing what I would call an opportunity for multi-generational leadership.

“In my view, it’s, it’s so important that any vibrant organization have active members of every generation, and the real art of leadership is bringing those generations together, getting them to work well together, and to tap into their complementary talents and skills.”

Please enjoy the conversation between PDx interviewer and SMPA graduate Victoria Makanjuola and Dr. Sherry Mueller HERE.

We Are All Connected: International relations and political science

October 16, 2020October 16, 2020Education, Global Communication, PDx, public diplomacy

With 193 member states, the United Nations is an intergovernmental organization that aims to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations.

The year 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the United Nations and its founding Charter. This anniversary comes in a time of great disruption for the world, compounded by an unprecedented global health crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with severe economic and social impacts. But it is also a reminder that times of struggle can become an opportunity for positive change and transformation.

The Model UN is a simulation of the UN General Assembly and its other multilateral bodies where students from high school and college perform an ambassadorial role while debating globally important topics such as climate change, gender equality, and global health.

As an undergraduate at Sam Houston State University, Texas, SMPA graduate student Victoria Makanjuola participated in the Model UN Her faculty adviser was Dr. Dennis Weng.

PDx Interviewer Victoria Makanjuola (second from left) and her team at the UN General Assembly room, 2019

For this PDx episode, Victoria talks to Dr. Weng about the Model UN experience; learning how countries interact and engage at a multilateral organization.

>Listen to the PDx interview HERE.

Dr. Weng also emphasizes the importance of political science and international relations: “it’s not just a subject…not textbook knowledge. It’s life. (These) have a direct influence on (our) daily life because we are all connected.”

To learn more about Model UN, go to https://unausa.org/model-un/

To celebrate UN Day, an annual concert is usually held in the General Assembly Hall. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the concert will be prerecorded and screened in the GA Hall on Thursday, October 22, 2020, at 12.00 pm EST. This will be shown on UN Web TV (webtv.un.org), the UN Channel on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.

The importance of citizen engagement in PD

September 28, 2020September 28, 2020Cultural Diplomacy, PDx, public diplomacy, Youth

Also, the US State Department presents 2020 Citizen Diplomacy Awards

B&W photo of Learning Life founder — Paul Lachelier

Our interconnected world is ever-changing, and if recent months have shown, having global connections does not always mean better understanding and cooperation among people and their governments. Diplomacy has been always been a practical approach to addressing these moments of disconnect and tension. However, non-government organizations have sometimes led the way by spearheading programs that get citizens involved in diplomacy.

PDx interviewer Victoria Makanjuola talks to Paul Lachelier, founder and director of Washington, DC-based non-profit lab Learning Life. The mission of the organization is to promote lifelong learning and citizen engagement. By using innovative approaches, Paul explains, Learning Life seeks to encourage and provide ways to know more about the wider world – especially amongst communities who do not always have that economic or social access – finding ways to “democratize opportunity” with programs such as International Mentoring and Family Diplomacy Initiative.

To find out more about Learning Life and its programs, go to their website or write to email@learninglife.info

Here is the latest PDx podcast with Paul Lachelier: Learning Life and the sharing of democracy.

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Also happening on Wednesday, September 30, is the U.S. State Department presentation of the 2020 Citizen Diplomacy Award to Mr. Mohamed Amin Ahmed, Founder, Chairman, and Executive Director of “Average Mohamed”. Average Mohamed is a counter ideology organization dedicated to stopping extremism and hate. The mission of Average Mohamed is to use ideas to defeat ideas, to find local solutions to global problems, and to promote peace, anti-extremism, and democracy to kids where they are: on social media.

Read more about the Citizen Diplomacy Award: https://www.state.gov/citizen-diplomacy-award/