John Melville is the 2016 recipient of the Walter Roberts Award for Public Diplomacy Studies. A second year Master’s student in the Global Communications program, he also works as the speechwriter to the Ambassador at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea where he helps communicate, advocate, and explain South Korean policies to American audiences.
John’s interest in public diplomacy stems from his background in both strategic communications and working with international audiences. Before his job at the Embassy, John worked at a speechwriting firm and as an English teacher in South Korea, where he quickly learned the importance of understanding foreign perspectives when communicating cross-culturally. His coursework at GW has strengthened both his theoretical understanding of issues in Public Diplomacy and his practical skills in cross-cultural persuasion.
After graduation, he hopes to either become a Public Diplomacy Officer in the US Department of State or continue his career in international speechwriting and strategic communications.
The other recipients of this award are: