About IPDGC

In 2001, a memorandum of understanding between the School of Media and Public Affairs, the Elliott School of International Affairs and the Public Diplomacy Foundation established the Public Diplomacy Institute (PDI) at the George Washington University. The Institute had the lofty objectives to encourage academic research and teaching in public diplomacy, foster high standards of professional practice, create networks with the US State Department, government agencies and non-state actors, and increase understanding of public diplomacy.

A few years later, PDI was renamed the Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication (IPDGC) with the establishment of the Walter R. Roberts Endowment – to honor the late diplomat and celebrated public diplomacy practitioner, Dr. Walter R. Roberts.

IPDGGC continues to be dedicated to the mission of fostering a comprehensive understanding of global communication and its impact on international relations. Our distinguished faculty affiliates and visiting scholars hail from diverse academic backgrounds, including media and public affairs, political science, business and cultural studies, and international affairs. Collaborations with partners such as the Public Diplomacy Council of America have encouraged initiatives such as the First Monday Forums, speaker programs on current public diplomacy issues, and other similarly thought-provoking events.

Our MA program in Global Communication seeks to equip our graduate students with valuable insights and networking opportunities enhanced through our diverse institutional connections with key stakeholders at the intersection of government, international organizations and global media. Our cohort and others at the Elliott School of International Affairs are encouraged to contribute to the Smart Power blog, a platform to share their views on the discussion of public diplomacy.

Contributing to this mission is the Endowment’s Advisory Committee which provides professional guidance and fundraises to support our activities in public diplomacy. The Committee comprises public diplomacy experts, esteemed scholars, and veteran U.S. diplomats. The two annual events supported by the Endowment have highlighted foreign engagement and global communication concerns and challenges which have added to academic discourse and policy deliberations.

Through these multifaceted endeavors, IPDGC continues to serve as a beacon of knowledge, facilitating informed discussions and promoting effective global communication strategies.

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The full history of the Institute (PDF) has been documented by former GW professor Bruce Gregory.