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June 2022

The Foreign Service Journal covers foreign affairs from an insider’s perspective, providing thought-provoking articles on international issues, the practice of diplomacy and the U.S. Foreign Service. Including the AFSA News section, The Journal is published monthly (January-February and July-August issues combined) by the American Foreign Service Association.

The June issue provides a progress report on diversity in the Foreign Service.

We always welcome short, focused letters about FSJ content; please send them to journal@afsa.org.

COVER STORY

Moldova—Putin’s Next Target?

A former ambassador to Moldova offers his perspective on the underlying issues of culture, language, ethnicity and history driving the current conflict.

BY JAMES PETTIT

FOCUS: A PROGRESS REPORT ON DIVERSITY

The Payne Fellowship Network: Advancing DEIA at USAID

Payne Fellows and alums have created a dynamic new employee resource group that is working to boost recruitment and retention of diverse FSOs.

BY MARIELA MEDINA CASTELLANOS

The FAS Diversity Fellowship Answers: “Why Not?”

The Foreign Agricultural Service has launched a pathbreaking initiative to bring diversity to its ranks.

BY VALERIE BROWN

A Foreign Service Career—Blindness Didn’t Stop Me

The evaluation and promotion process contains potential pitfalls for disabled members of the Foreign Service, the first blind FSO at State attests.

BY ROY GLOVER

Supporting State’s LGBTQI+ Workforce

A gay FSO working in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion discusses what the initiative means for the LGBTQI+ community.

BY THOMAS COLEMAN

FS HERITAGE

Why the Office of War Information Still Matters

Established in 1942, the OWI popularized a global vision for the war effort—underscoring the importance of public diplomacy for U.S. national security today.

BY NICHOLAS J. CULL

OWI and the “Battle of Sweden”

BY WILLIAMS S. MARTIN AND DARIA GASPARINI

EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT

Getting a Degree Overseas: An Option Worth Considering?

Globally minded students may find going abroad for a university degree an attractive alternative to the U.S. These FAQs are intended to help guide that decision.

BY REBECCA GRAPPO

Transitioning FS Kids to U.S. Public Schools: What You Need to Know

Here are tips and suggestions for FS parents whose children will enter U.S. public school following a move back to the States.

BY CHARLOTTE LARSEN

How to Qualify for In-State College Tuition

Proving “domicile” for in-state college tuition can be challenging for many FS families. Here’s more on the concept—and the new federal law that will help your case.

BY JOHN K. NALAND

PERSPECTIVES

President’s Views

The Time for Diplomacy Is Now

BY ERIC RUBIN

Letter from the Editor

DEIA Today: “We Can Walk and Chew Gum”

BY SHAWN DORMAN

Speaking Out

iMatch: Ready for Takeoff?

BY UBAH KHASIMUDDIN

Reflections

Election Saga, Bangui

BY ROBERT E. GRIBBIN

DEPARTMENTS

Letters-Plus: No One Was Listening… ?!

Response to April Speaking Out, “No One Was Listening, 1992”

BY DESAIX (TERRY) MYERS

AFSA NEWS

State VP Voice

Ongoing Issues at State

BY TOM YAZDGERDI

USAID VP Voice

When Is a Presidential Priority Not a Priority?

BY JASON SINGER

AFSA on the Hill

FY22 AFSA Appropriations Outcomes

BY KIM GREENPLATE