In honor of Earth Day, we’re highlighting the work of Lillygol Sedaghat, a Fulbright–National Geographic Digital Storyteller alumna, who is making a big, green impact as a multimedia environmental journalist and speaker.

How did she get started down this path? A life-long love of milk tea lead Sedaghat to consider her environmental footprint, leading to a fellowship in Taiwan to study waste management, all the while practicing hip hop diplomacy. Sedaghat went to Taiwan as part of the Fulbright-National Geographic Digital Storytelling Fellowship.

Listen to her story on 22.33, Episode 18 - Trash Truck Tunes & Hip Hop Grooves with Lillygol Sedaghat.

Sedaghat is “an active contributor to National Geographic's Planet or Plastic? global campaign and creates music videos, info-graphics, and maps to transform people's perceptions of trash from something disposable to something valuable,” as noted on the National Geographic blog. Check out her article to find out “7 Things You Didn’t Know About Plastic (and Recycling).”

• Read more about Trash Truck Tunes & Hip Hop Grooves – and a Big, Green Impact

Program Description

The mission of the Department of State is to lead America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety, and economic prosperity. The Department actively seeks to recruit and hire American citizens with diverse educational and cultural backgrounds, perspectives, and problem-solving skills in many fields, including international relations, medicine, IT, engineering, law enforcement, and foreign languages. Careers at the Department of State are challenging and rewarding. For employees serving overseas, benefits include: housing, educational benefits, health care, and department-funded travel for employees and their eligible family members.

The Cox-State Department Diplomacy Seminar is a fully funded, three-day professional exploration program to be held in Washington, D.C., October 2-5, 2019. The program is designed to allow current undergraduate students to gain a better understanding of the role of diplomats in promoting diplomacy and to learn about the educational, internship and career opportunities in the Foreign Service and Civil Service at the Department of State. The Seminar will also highlight the work of U.S. Foreign Service Officers, whose job is to promote peace, support prosperity, and protect American citizens while advancing the interests of the U.S. abroad. Participants will expand their knowledge of diplomacy through workshops, visits to organizations involved in international affairs and interaction with Foreign Service Officers and international affairs experts at the Department of State.

Applicants are not required to major in International Relations or Global Studies in order to be eligible for the Cox-State Department Diplomacy Seminar, but they should demonstrate an interest in pursuing a career in public service or an international field. The U.S. Department of State hires individuals from diverse educational fields, including STEM fields as well as international relations, government, and public policy.

Apply Now

View Informational Flyer (PDF)
 

Requirements

Applicants must:

• Be 18 years of age or older by October 2, 2019
• Have an established grade point average of 3.0 or above
• Have a U.S. government issued ID or passport for entrance into the State Department
• Be able to participate in all aspects of the program for the full duration of the program

Please note: The Cox-State Department Diplomacy Seminar encourages applications from students from groups historically underrepresented in the Foreign Service and those with demonstrated financial need.
 

Benefits

The Cox-State Department Diplomacy Seminar will cover tuition, airfare and one free carry-on, shared room and board, and program designated meals, activities, and travel in Washington, D.C. for all program participants.
 

Important Dates

The Program will be held in Washington, D.C. October 2-5, 2019

• Applications are due by 11:59pm PST, April 28, 2019
• All applicants will be notified of the decision by May 10, 2019
• The Department of State will be holding a FB Live information session on April 18, 2019 at 2pm EST (Facebook.com/doscareers)

Once accepted, participants are responsible for confirming their attendance and working with the CloseUp Foundation over the summer to coordinate travel and lodging.
 

Application Process Guidance for Universities

The application can be found at http://bit.ly/2019Cox-StateDipSem

Please select 1-2 students that could benefit from the Cox-State Department Diplomacy Seminar and provide them with the attached flyer which includes a summary of the program and link to the application.

Please note that the first 300 fully eligible applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
 

Questions?

For questions about the program, please contact Nicole Brzozowski at diplomacyseminar@uccoxfoundation.org.

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The Cox-State Department Diplomacy Fellowship was developed in partnership with the U.S. Department of State, the Una Chapman Cox Foundation, with 37 years of dedication to a strong, professional Foreign Service, and the Close Up Foundation, with 40 years of experience bringing students and teachers to Washington, DC and fostering civic engagement.

• Read more about The Cox-State Department Diplomacy Seminar

The Patrick Flanagan International Judicial Scholarship Endowment Fund Program for IVLP Alumni

At the request of Mrs. Caroline Flanagan, and in partnership with the National Judicial College (NJC), the Northern Nevada International Center (NNIC) is pleased to announce the Honorable Patrick Flanagan International Judicial Scholarship Endowment Fund.

The Flanagan Judicial Scholarship was established in honor and in memory of Patrick Flanagan, a champion of citizen diplomacy and fierce advocate for deeper cultural understanding between people of all nations. Judge Flanagan met with hundreds of visitors during his tenure at the Washoe County District Court.

The Northern Nevada International Center and the National Judicial College are partnering on this exciting scholarship program, which starts at the National Judicial College in Fall 2019. Applicants must be exchange program alumni of the U.S. Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), who participated in a judicial/rule of law IVLP project.

The maximum amount of a single annual scholarship is up to $5,000. Additional funds available will be used to partially scholarship additional international judicial students.

Scholarship winners will receive the following benefits on a cost-reimbursable basis:

• Tuition for a 4-5 day course at the National Judicial College
• Round-trip airfare from the capital of your country to Reno, Nevada
• Accommodations for the duration of your course
• Dinner at the home of a local judge

The deadline to apply is April 15, 2019. Please provide the following points in your application:

• The date and title of the IVLP Program you participated in
• Your country of origin
• Which course you would like to enroll in (select from courses listed below)
• Why this scholarship will help you in your work
• How you will share and implement your knowledge with colleagues in your country
• Whether you will need an interpreter for the duration of the course

The following National Judicial College qualified courses are eligible for the scholarship. One course per applicant.

Leadership for Judges
Reno, NV August 12-15, 2019

Designing and Presenting: A Faculty Development Workshop
Reno, NV August 19-22, 2019

Judicial Writing
Reno, NV October 7-10, 2019

Ethics, Fairness, and Security in Your Courtroom and Community
Reno, NV October 19-24, 2019

Drugged Driving Essentials
Reno, NV October 28-30, 20

Civil Mediation
Reno, NV November 4-8, 2019

• Read more about Special Opportunity for IVLP Judicial Exchange Alumni: Honorable Judge Flanagan Scholarship

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo knows firsthand “the value that thriving urban environments and robust municipal infrastructure bring to entrepreneurs.” That’s why he’s thrilled to welcome exchange program alumni from around the U.S. to the "Stronger American Cities" Alumni Thematic International Exchange Seminars (Alumni TIES), happening this month in Kansas City, MO. “Exchange alumni are citizen diplomats who are building stronger communities,” says Secretary Pompeo, adding: “We know this group has the talent and ideas to succeed, so we’re happy to invest in you.”

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Are you an exchange alumni entrepreneur? Visit our new Enabling Entrepreneurs page for resources and opportunities designed to help you take your business ideas to the next level.

• Read more about Secretary of State Mike Pompeo: Exchange Alumni Have “the Talent and Ideas to Succeed”

For Ameni Mansouri, a TechWomen 2018 alumna from Tunisia, making it on Forbes Middle East’s 30 Under 30 list has always been one of her dreams, but how could she make it happen? We caught up with Ms. Mansouri, CEO & co-founder of fashion marketplace Dabchy, to find out and to congratulate her on this honor during Women’s History Month.

How does it feel to make it on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list?

AM: “It has always been one of my dreams, but I did not know how to approach it – I did not know whether it is earned through achievements or through personal application! When a journalist reached out to me, it was a surreal moment. I am really both happy and proud! I am so proud of my team, without whom nothing would have been possible. Being featured on this list means a lot to me. It is the result of a lot of hard work, sacrifice and networking.”

How did participating in the TechWomen exchange program help your career?

AM: “The program gave me the opportunity to learn deeply about IT companies, and allowed me to develop new resolutions that I started applying to my own startup since I returned from my exchange experience. TechWomen did also help me improve my personal, social and communication skills, and enabled me to develop my self-confidence and my leadership skills! With TechWomen, I received the international support and inspiration that I needed for the growth of my business.”

What advice would she give to other TechWomen alumnae (and fellow women entrepreneurs)?

AM: “To all my fellow TechWomen and women entrepreneurs all over the world, be sure that ‘Behind every successful woman is a tribe of other successful women who have her back,’ so keep supporting each other and never be afraid to chase your dreams!

• Read more about TechWomen Alumna Lands on Forbes Middle East’s 30 Under 30

“The W-GDP can be just that vehicle to translate and forward powerful thoughts and dreams into action, and empower millions of women around the world,” says Humphrey alumna at the White House launch event.

Humphrey Fellows from American University met with President Donald Trump, Senior Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Assistant Secretary of State Marie Royce at the White House for the launch of the new Women's Global Development and Prosperity Initiative (W-GDP). The initiative will provide innovative educational programs, financial and technical assistance, capacity building, and mentorship to support women’s economic participation around the world. The goal of W-GDP is to reach 50 million women in the developing world by 2025 through U.S. government activities, private-public partnerships, and a new USAID fund.

There Humphrey Fellows at the W-GDP event included: Coumba Ndiaye from Senegal, Darlene Pajarito from the Philippines, a fellow from Afghanistan, Lubna Nasser from Jordan, and Nino Elbakidze from Georgia. Regarding the initiative, Ms. Pajarito emphasized its significance: "Each one [person] is in a position to help others. If we put our thoughts and efforts together, just imagine what we can do and achieve. The W-GDP can be just that vehicle to translate and forward powerful thoughts and dreams into action, and empower millions of women around the world. As a Humphrey Fellow, I am fortunate and grateful to have witnessed the momentous launching of the W-GDP at the White House."

Prior to their Fellowships, Ms. Pajarito was the assistant city prosecutor at the Department of Justice and the executive director at the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking Secretariat; Ms. Ndiaye was a court clerk at the Senegal Court of Appeals; the Afghan fellow worked at an NGO that combats human trafficking at Hagar International; Ms. Nassar was the country representative at DIGNITY – Danish Institute against Torture; and, Ms. Elbakidze was a senior researcher with Human Rights Advocacy and Democracy Fund. 

• Read more about Imagining What We Can Do and Achieve With W-GDP