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!