The Foreign Service Journal, September 2016

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2016 25 RAD: Growing up in the South at that time was the determin- ing factor in my interest in public service. As a proud child of the South, I bear the scars of segregation and discrimination, but these scars ignited in me a passionate desire to make the world a better place. You know the legend of the phoenix—the bird that rose from its own ashes and was more beautiful and magnificent than ever. Well, I was born in Phoenix, Arizona, and raised in Atlanta, whose symbol is that bird. Consequently, I always believed that from ashes you could make beautiful things, from chaos you could make peace, and from despair you could bring happiness—but only with hard work, dedication and determination. I knew I wanted to make a difference, and knew that I had to find my niche. AMBASSADOR RUTHA. DAVIS FSJ: What brought you to a career in diplomacy? RAD: When I was a junior at Spelman College, I was awarded the Charles E. Merrill Scholarship , which gave me the opportu- nity to study and travel abroad for 15 months. I chose to study in Dijon, France, and while there, I met a number of African stu- dents who were preparing to return to their respective, recently independent countries to assume active roles in dealing with the political, economic and social problems of post-colonial Africa. I found it an exciting prospect and wanted to be on the ground in Africa as the nation-building process began and as the U.S. gov- ernment worked to partner with and help support the develop- ment of these newly independent countries. What better way to do this than as a U.S. diplomat? AFSA/JOAQUINSOSA