By Yvonne Oh, IPDGC Program Coordinator
Senior Foreign Service Officers Christopher Teal and Sean O’Neill share information about the opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students looking to have careers in Civil or Foreign Service as officers or specialists. Teal, who is also the Public Diplomacy Fellow with IPDGC, and O’Neill are both on detail to the George Washington University.
Teal (left) teaches Public Diplomacy at the School of Media and Public Affairs. O’Neill is with the Department of Organizational Sciences and Communication, Columbian College of Arts and Sciences.
Both talked about their motivations for joining the Service, and about their experiences at assignments overseas and in the US. They explained the various programs available for students to have those experiences – internships, fellowships, study abroad – and how these help a person determine if they are ready for a profession to represent the United States overseas.
Teal pointed out that there was also a Civil service track for professionals who work stateside in all areas of the Department – providing the same support for U.S. citizens and interests overseas.
The event was well attended by both graduate and undergraduate students from different programs, with a lengthy Q&A session to cover their queries.
