The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2023

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2023 43 In 1995 TLG established the Terence Todman Book Scholar- ship—named after the late six-time ambassador, who retired in 1993, the first African American to attain the rank of Career Ambassador—to encourage outstanding students at HBCUs to pursue careers in international affairs. In February 2022, TLG President Kerney was instrumental in having the State Depart- ment cafeteria named in honor of Ambassador Todman. In 1957, as a young diplomat and self-identified “troublemaker,” he succeeded in integrating the dining facilities at the Foreign Service Institute. As a core programmatic initiative during its golden anni- versary year, TLG seeks to expand its Palmer Envoys program. Selected from HBCUs across the country, the initial cohort of 41 students met virtually with TLG members for eight months. Palmer Envoys are students interested in international affairs careers. The sessions with TLG members included review of the National Security Strategy, the interagency budget process, and the State Department’s Managing for Results Framework to demystify the department and make it more accessible to the exceptional students who might otherwise not seek State intern- ships, fellowships, or employment. TLG continued its yearlong celebration with a speakers’ series that included retired NASA astronaut Robert Curbeam discussing space diplomacy, and two Real Talk sessions on bid- ding and general career advice with Ambassador Dereck Hogan and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Ervin Massinga. TLG’s executive board is modernizing the organization’s virtual and social media presence and paying tribute to its luminaries as it prepares for its next 50 years of service. n As a core programmatic initiative during its golden anniversary year, TLG seeks to expand its Palmer Envoys program.