#GWElliott – Page 2 – The Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication

November 13, 2023November 13, 2023

Cybersecuring Democracy

First Monday Forum on election cybersecurity as a PD Focus

By Alexis Posel, IPDGC Communications Assistant

Adam Clayton Powell III and Judy Kang, Executive Director and Program Manager respectively of the USC Initiative on Cybersecurity (pictured with Joel Fischman, PDCA President), spoke on the challenges of election cybersecurity in the digital age. Powell and Kang spoke as a part of November’s First Monday Forum, a recurring collaboration between IPDGC and the Public Diplomacy Council of America (PDCA).

The message was simple: adversaries are attacking democratic elections. Powell explained that non-governmental entities access information such as donor lists and contacts to gain entrance into defense facilities that can disrupt campaign operations. After doing so, these entities, mainly from Russia and China, cause chaos and insecurity in election freedom in democratic nations worldwide.

Powell underscored that “ the reality is that we’re in a race with no finish line,” when it comes to solving cybersecurity challenges for democracies around the world. He expressed concern that the upcoming 2024 election may be more vulnerable to cybersecurity attacks than any other election cycle.

The reason, Powell stated, is that there are more common attack vectors worldwide such as weak passwords, multi-factor authentication, social engineering such as phishing, and unprotected data on electronic devices.

The main concern in 2024? Artificial intelligence flooding campaigns and voters with fake videos and misinformation that could falsely sway the electorate.

The USC Election Cybersecurity Initiative began as a non-partisan project to help educate and protect US campaigns and elections, with support from Google. The initiative expanded in 2022 to include democracies in Europe, Asia, and Africa to exchange best practices in election security.

November 1, 2023April 23, 2024

Bringing the world to Boise

Global Ties Idaho promotes mutual understanding between Idahoans and visitors from across the globe

By Yvonne Oh, IPDGC Program Coordinator

In May this year, IPDGC and the Walter Roberts Endowment recognized Idaho Senator James Risch for his contributions to U.S. global engagement. As part of that recognition, nonprofit Global Ties Idaho was awarded a small grant of $5000 to organize public diplomacy programs that serve the Idahoan community.

Recently, Global Ties Idaho participated in the Idaho State Museum Hispanic Heritage Day celebration, ¡Fiesta! The museum event was a celebration of Idaho’s Hispanic heritage and diverse cultures that featured music, art, food, and performances.

Global Ties Idaho organized a booth to introduce participants in a U.S. State Department International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) who were from Latin America. Maya Duratovic, a member of the board, said that “while Idahoans are familiar with Hispanic Mexican culture, this was an opportunity to meet people from other countries in Latin America – El Salvador, Ecuador, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, and Guatemala”.

The IVLP participants were law enforcement professionals visiting the U.S. to learn about Community Policing and were in Boise for a week.

From left: Jaime Enrique Carballo Castro (El Salvador), Capt. Francisco Perea Fuentes (Panama), Maya Duratovic (Global Ties Idaho), Patricia Fernanda Feijoo Gallo (Ecuador), Ariel Fabrizio Ojeda Aguilera (Paraguay), Carole Schroeder (Global Ties Idaho), Jorge Luis Cartejena Nunez (Honduras)

By creating this opportunity at the museum, over 1000 visitors were able to meet the IVLP participants and learn more about their country’s diverse cultures, people, and histories.

IPDGC has been able to support nonprofits in other states in creating programs for their community; thanks in part to their Congressional representative’s understanding of U.S. public diplomacy and efforts to support that engagement. Read more about past programs supported by these microgrants.

October 10, 2023April 23, 2024

Remembering Fulbright: The Senator, The Program, And Public Diplomacy

Dr. Lonnie R. Johnson, former Executive Director of the binational Fulbright Commission in Austria, spoke on the history of the education exchange known as the Fulbright Scholars Program, named after its founder Senator J. William Fulbright from Arkansas. This presentation was October’s First Monday Forum, IPDGC’s collaborative event with the Public Diplomacy Council of America.

Fulbright’s commitment to global peace came followed the horrific experiences of World War 2; he would become an outspoken opponent of US involvement in Vietnam. However, as a Southern man of the time, he was also consistently opposed legislation that would protect the civil rights of Black Americans during the 50s. This has resulted in the struggle within the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to rebrand the program.

Johnson disagrees with this move and has written about the need to recognize the need for a truthful telling of this history and questions efforts to exclude references to Fulbright and his foundational vision. “U.S. public diplomacy should be fact-based… the Fulbright program without J. William Fulbright doesn’t make sense,” Johnson said.

He added that the erasure of Fulbright and his contributions from his namesake program runs counter to its commitment to a free and honest exchange of ideas, and threatens to damage public perception of the program at home and abroad. In April this year, he posted his views in an open letter to the global Fulbright community. Johnson is currently writing a book on the history and contributions of Sen. J. William Fulbright to foreign policy and international education programs.

Joel Fischmann, PDCA President in closing the forum commented, “We need the reminder that these bigger-than-life historical figures have flaws”.

Johnson traveled from Vienna, Austria to speak at the event held at the GW Elliott School of International Affairs.

Recording of the October First Monday Forum: Remembering Fulbright

October 4, 2023April 23, 2024

Connecting cultures

A workshop on building cultural diplomacy programs

By Yvonne Oh, IPDGC Program Coordinator

In mid-September, IPDGC kicked off its workshop on cultural diplomacy programming “Connecting Cultures: Cultural Diplomacy and Engagement Workshop”, collaborating with the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design. The workshop was conceived with the two-pronged purpose of broadening awareness about cultural diplomacy, and encouraging GW students to consider how their fields of study can be part of U.S. global engagement.

Highly experienced trainers with nonprofit, American Voices, John Ferguson and Amr Selim – both acclaimed musicians – will be conducting this free, hybrid workshop. American Voices is the implementing partner for the U.S. Department of State’s American Music Abroad Program and the Arts Envoy Program.

On Friday, September 29, the in-person session was held at a beautiful at the Flagg Building, home to the Corcoran School (originally the Corcoran Gallery of Art, 1869). John and Amr led discussions with GW student participants about navigating foreign environments, the importance of sustainable programming, and exploring different avenues for funding.

In different sessions of the workshop, participants met with cultural specialists who Zoomed in to share their expertise in cultural programming – dancers, singers, filmmakers, and other creative talents from all over the globe. They also met with former U.S. diplomats who encouraged their efforts as part of U.S. engagement and shared tips on funding and building networks.

At the end of the workshop. participants will present their proposals for a cultural program using the ideas and guidance from the sessions.

Dean Alyssa Ayres, dean of the Elliott School, dropped in for a quick visit and expressed her enthusiasm for the workshop; sharing how cultural diplomacy programs dovetail well with international development work.

The Walter Roberts Endowment has provided support to the “Connecting Cultures: Cultural Diplomacy and Engagement Workshop”.

For more about cultural programming and American Voices, listen to John Ferguson on Public Diplomacy Examined (PDx). IPDGC summer intern Adeniyi Funsho interviewed John in 2021 – PDX podcast: Connecting Cultures through Performance

With reporting from Alexis Posel, IPDGC communications assistant.

September 18, 2023April 23, 2024

Looking to the future

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

CSPAN also provided coverage of the event.

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.

September 15, 2023April 23, 2024

Considering opportunities at the State Department

IPDGC Career talk with senior U.S. diplomats

By Alexis Posel, IPDGC communications assistant.

At the recent career talk held on September 13th, GW students had many questions to ask: “Does having a graduate degree improve employment prospects at the Department of State?”

“What are your recommendations for making yourself a good candidate for an FSO position in undergrad?”

“How did you end up specializing in economics?”

“What is it like working for different presidential administrations?”

Senior Foreign Service Officers Chris Teal (left) and Michael Newbill spoke to over 50 undergraduate and graduate students about a variety of career opportunities available to them at the US Department of State.

The two senior diplomats are currently on detail at the George Washington University. Chris is the Public Diplomacy Fellow at IPDGC and teaches public diplomacy, and Michael teaches classes in communication and global strategies.

Apart from giving information about programs available for students wanting short-term involvement with the State Department – internships, fellowships, study abroad – both also shared their experiences in overseas postings and how they prepared for the professional and personal challenges. Michael and Chris spoke about having the mindset to advance national interests abroad and handling the challenge of being questioned about everything that happens in the U.S.

“When you are representing the US, you have to be ‘on’ 24-7. This is not a 9-5 job,” Chris added.

Some takeaways from yesterday were: State jobs don’t always require a graduate degree; YES to studying languages; and explore both the diplomatic and civil service positions to better understand what works for you. The Department publishes information on paid internships and fellowships, and those students who want to get on the career path to a State Department role, they can learn more about the Pickering, Rangel, and Clarke fellowships.