The Foreign Service Journal, May 2020

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | MAY 2020 61 AFSA NEWS Teaching International Affairs: AFSA Networking Event On Feb. 27, AFSA hosted a networking happy hour centered on a favorite post– Foreign Service profes- sion—teaching. We brought together Foreign Service personnel who have transi- tioned from their government careers to teaching interna- tional affairs and the art of diplomacy to compare best practices. The event also provided an opportunity for aspir- ing teachers among AFSA’s membership to meet and learn from FSOs who have already made a successful transition, as well as other professors from area univer- sities. It can be quite challeng- ing to enter academia as a diplomatic practitioner, espe- cially without a Ph.D. That’s a subject Ambassador (ret.) Barbara Bodine addressed with specificity and humor drawing on her considerable experience at Georgetown University as director of the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy. AFSAmember-teachers have also reported that it Ambassador (ret.) Barbara Bodine, director of the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University, discusses teaching options for Foreign Service personnel. Participants mingle at the Teaching International Affairs networking event. AFSA/CAMERONWOODWORTH AFSA/CAMERONWOODWORTH can be a heavy lift to design curricula from scratch. This networking event gave space for the Foreign Service’s con- siderable brain trust to make connections to exchange ideas, tips and advice and to answer questions from the next generation of FSO teachers. For further information about teaching as a former (or current) Foreign Service member, see AFSA’s webpage “Sharing Wisdom (And Cur- ricula!) About Teaching Diplo- macy, International Affairs, and Other Associated Topics” at www.afsa.org/teaching- diplomacy. This webpage contains a wealth of information, including sample syllabi and other helpful documents and resources. AFSA welcomes additions from our teacher-members and the opportunity to post your syllabi or other resource documents. Please contact Dolores Brown at brown@ afsa.org with submissions. Also, visit www.afsa.org/ teaching-diplomacy-today to read the January-February 2020 Foreign Service Journal cover story, “Teaching Diplo- macy Today: Post-Foreign Service Opportunities in Academia.” AFSA considers this initiative not only a valuable service to members, but also a significant step in build- ing broad understanding of diplomacy and its importance to the security and prosperity of the United States, a critical part of AFSA’s mission. A post–Foreign Service career in education is one way to expand understand- ing of the role diplomats play in advancing U.S. strategic interests and assisting U.S. citizens and companies around the world. It is also a wonderful way to help inspire the next generation of the Foreign Service. n