Iceland’s ambassador speaks at the 2023 Walter Roberts Annual Lecture
The 2023 Walter Roberts Annual Lecture will feature HE Ambassador Bergdis Ellertsdottir, Iceland’s ambassador to the U.S.
Ambassador Ellertsdottir (left) will speak on the topic of “Climate Diplomacy: Communicating with Urgency”. In this talk, she will discuss the unique position of Iceland in global debates about climate change, particularly the Arctic region. She will discuss the communication challenges and her country’s advocacy on what scientists recognize as the most pressing global issue.
It is no surprise that Arctic affairs are a top priority for the country. Iceland lies completely within the Arctic, with the Arctic Circle passing through its northernmost community, Grimsey Island (circled), 40 kilometers off its north coast. The effects of climate change are very evident in the receding of Iceland’s glaciers and ocean acidification impacting the surrounding marine environment.
Following Amb. Ellertsdottir ‘s lecture,SMPA Professor Frank Sesno will host a conversation and moderate the Q&A session. Sesno is the Founding Director of Planet Forward, a project of the Center for Innovative Media that teaches environmental storytelling to GW students. The Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication (IPDGC) and the Walter Roberts Endowment are collaborating with Planet Forward for the Annual Lecture.
Dr. William Youmans, Director of IPDGC, will deliver welcoming remarks at the start of the event.
Tuesday, December 12, 2023
Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm ET(A light reception will be provided at 5:15pm)
USAGM CEO shares the latest developments and challenges to international broadcasting
By Yvonne Oh, IPDGC Program Coordinator
The first in-person First Monday Forum for Fall 2023 featured Amanda Bennett, CEO of the US Agency for Global Media and she shared new developments at the agency that oversees VOA, RFE/RL, Radio-TV Martí, the Middle East Broadcasting Network, Radio Free Asia, and the Open Technology Fund. Bennett talked about efforts to reach new Russian and Mandarin-speaking audiences, efforts against disinformation and censorship, and the challenges of AI.
Amanda Bennett, CEO of the US Agency for Global Media
IPDGC is especially proud to note that Gabrielle Stalls, the Hans “Tom” Tuch Fellow who organizes the FMF events, is a new graduate student in the Global Communications program. Get to know more about Gabby, who is new to DC as well, in our Student Spotlight.
Orientation Day activities introduce incoming graduates to Elliott’s organizations and programs
By Yvonne Oh, IPDGC Program Coordinator
The Elliott School’s Orientation team put up a great welcome for incoming graduate students on Wednesday, August 23. The students heard from Dean Alyssa Ayres, met with their Program Directors, and attended sessions with academic advisors, career coaches and student panels. The day ended with a Welcome Reception where the new students met and mingled with faculty, administrators and fellow graduate students.
IPDGC had a table at the Elliott Engagement Expo and with the help of student Pablo Molina Asensi, 2nd year in the Global Comms MA program, spoke to many students about the public diplomacy and global communications activities we organize throughout the academic year.
For 2023-2024, IPDGC will organize a cultural diplomacy program for students at the Elliott School and the Corcoran School for Arts and Design to teach the process and practical aspects of developing cultural diplomacy and engagement programming. There will be student career talks, film and book events, and presentations by our Visiting scholars. Our partnership with the Public Diplomacy Council allows us to host First Monday Forums with leaders and practitioners in US public diplomacy and international engagement. As always, the Walter Roberts Endowment will support the Annual Lecture and the Award for Congressional Leadership in Public Diplomacy for 2023-2024.
We are excited about welcoming our students back to the GW campus in a few of weeks. IPDGC and the MA Global Communication program have prepared a slate of activities for the fall semester, and look forward to engaging with everyone at these events. Meanwhile, here is a recap of the events from last academic year.
With the support of the Walter Roberts Endowment, IPDGC organized the Annual Lecture featuring Jodie Ginsberg, president of the Committee to Protect Journalists. Her presentation on “Defending Press Freedom: Protecting Journalists Around the World” was a grim reminder that threats to the media community remained, in a world struggling through a pandemic, global recession, and autocratic regimes.
U.S. Senator James Risch of Idaho was the 2023 Award for Congressional Leadership in Public Diplomacy recipient. IPDGC also announced a grant of $5,000 from the Walter Roberts Endowment to the non-profit organization Global Ties Idaho for a public diplomacy program that serves its community.
IPDGC co-hosted a panel with recipients of the 2023 Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage Award. We were honored to be able to interview Doris Rios of Costa Rica and Yuliia Paievska of Ukraine about their work and exceptional courage, strength, and leadership to improve the lives of others.
Our Visiting Scholar program welcomed five international scholars, including a Fulbrighter, covering diverse research topics: public diplomacy in Northeast Asia; soft power in museum diplomacy; the role of civil society in international governance; the changing temporality of journalism; and the possibilities of peace journalism in the Ukraine-Russia war.
In our graduate program, 12 students graduated with their MA in Global Communication. The Walter Roberts Endowment awarded two students, Brandon Bell and Sherilyn Harrington, with the Public Diplomacy Studies Award, recognizing their excellent academic work in public diplomacy. We wish all of them the best in their future endeavors!
Recap of IPDGC activities: hosting the 2023 IWOC awardees
On March 10, 2023, IPDGC had the opportunity to host the recipients of the 2023 International Women of Courage Award at the GW Elliott School of International Affairs. Earlier that week, the U.S. Department of State announced the awards which recognize global women who have demonstrated exceptional courage, strength, and leadership in acting to improve the lives of others.
At this event, IPDGC was able to speak with two recipients of the IWOC Award, Doris Rio (Costa Rica) and Yuliia Paievska (Ukraine).
IPDGC’s Nicholas Aguirre Zafiro spoke to Doris Rio for an exclusive interview. Doris is a recognized Cabécarindigenous leader and well-respected member of the China Kichá indigenous community in her country. She is involved in multiple influential initiatives to improve indigenous lives.
Doris Rio with First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken at the White House (epaimages)
In the interview, Doris talks about what can be done at domestic and international levels to protect women. As a member of the National Women’s Indigenous Forum, Doris advocated for the participation of women in issues of security, sustainable development, peaceful defense of human rights, and the recovery of indigenous land.
Her work includes advising government institutions, international organizations, and civil society about development and land use choices that are harmonious with the environment and affect the lives of indigenous communities.
Watch the full interview:
This interview is by GW undergraduate student Nicholas Aguirre Zafiro, who is majoring in Political Communication at the School of Media and Public Affairs.
IPDGC honors Idaho senator for his support of American global engagement
IPDGC Director Dr. William Youmans presents Sen. James Risch with the 2023 Walter Roberts Award for Congressional Leadership in Public Diplomacy. Mrs. Vicki Risch is on the left. (Official U.S. Senate photo by Joy Holder)
WASHINGTON (April 19, 2023) – The Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication at the George Washington University, together with the Walter Roberts Endowment, has given U.S. Senator James Risch
(R-Idaho) the 2023 Walter Roberts Award for Congressional Leadership in Public Diplomacy. The award was given in recognition for Sen. Risch’s role in protecting the security and interests of the American people and continuing to advance U.S. prosperity and leadership around the world. Sen. Risch is the ranking member and lead Republican of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Sen. Risch in his remarks notes, “As ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I understand the impact that diplomacy can have on the many challenges that exist around the globe. The United States is looked to for leadership on the world stage, and in many cases, our diplomatic tools are the best way to ensure an outcome that benefits the U.S. I am honored to receive this recognition.”
The 2023 Walter Roberts Award recognizes Risch’s efforts to promote U.S. public diplomacy, namely by holding hearings on the role of public diplomacy in countering authoritarianism and helping get language to support public diplomacy in last year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
“This award celebrates the Senator’s leadership in advancing ideals shared by Walter Roberts, who dedicated his career to the promotion of public diplomacy and international broadcasting,” says Dr. William Youmans, Director of the Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication.
Speaking on behalf of the Endowment, Dr. William Roberts– eldest son of Walter Roberts – thanked Risch for his service and encouraged him to keep up the work on “current and future public diplomacy initiatives as you seek novel and innovative ways to connect with a diversity of people both locally and around the world”.
Sen. Risch ensured the passage of the State Authorization Act, which makes significant investments key to advancing U.S. national security and foreign affairs, including modernizing the State Department’s diplomatic corps and strengthening diverse recruitment and retention efforts. Recently, U.S. President Joe Biden nominated Sen.
Risch for Congressional Representative of the United States to the 77th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, a testament to his commitment to diplomacy.
The Institute also announced a grant of $5,000 from the Walter Roberts Endowment to the non-profit organization Global Ties Idaho for a public diplomacy program that serves its community.
From Boise, Global Ties Idaho Executive Director Carol Schroeder sent along congratulatory remarks, “Global Ties Idaho is appreciative of Sen. Risch’s long and distinguished political career in Idaho. Many of us consider him a close friend… (and) are delighted that he has been recognized. We extend our hearty congratulations to our good Senator.”
The Walter Roberts Award for Congressional Leadership in Public Diplomacy was created for recognizing congressional leaders for their work to support the important work of public diplomacy as well as to shed light on something that is invisible to many Americans, but crucial to U.S. interests.
The Institute of Public Diplomacy and Global Communication is generously supported by the Walter Roberts Endowment. Established in 2005 by Dr. Walter R. Roberts, former associate director of the U.S. Information Agency and distinguished figure in U.S. public diplomacy, the endowment supports activities, programming, and scholarship for the study of public diplomacy at the George Washington University.
