AFSA NEWS FSJ Editorial Board Welcomes and Farewells The Foreign Service Journal proudly introduces three new members to its Editorial Board: Foreign Service specialist medical practitioner Suzanne August, public diplomacy FSO Mathew Hagengruber, and Foreign Commercial Service Officer Paul Oliva. Suzanne August currently serves as a medical provider in Juba, after joining the Foreign Service in 2016. Her FS career includes assignments in Guatemala City, Islamabad, Amman, and Ankara. August’s academic credentials include a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree from Rush University in Chicago, a master’s in public health (MPH) from the University of California, Berkeley, and both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in nursing from the University of San Francisco and the University of California, San Francisco, respectively. Mathew Hagengruber is currently in the economic tradecraft course at the Foreign Service Institute (FSI). He joined the State Department Foreign Service in 2011 and has been posted to Hermosillo, Moscow, Sofia, and Kyiv. Hagengruber’s academic background includes a bachelor’s in science journalism and natural resources management from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He also has prior experiences In an Aug. 12 departmentwide email, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard Verma announced a significant change to the Foreign Service selection process. Starting with the Fiscal Year 2025 orientation classes, entry-level candidates who have served a minimum of 48 months in positions abroad graded FS-6 or above will receive a “bump-up” to their register score. This adjustment acknowledges the valuable experience gained by those who have served overseas, including consular fellows, limited non-career appointments, and other roles. The credit will be akin to the additional points awarded to candidates with critical language skills. This new initiative is part of the department’s ongoing efforts to modernize its workforce under the Secretary’s Modernization Agenda. n Foreign Service Selection “Bump Up” NEWS BRIEF Paul Oliva Suzanne August Mathew Hagengruber as a newspaper reporter and Peace Corps volunteer in Ukraine. Foreign Commercial Service Officer Paul Oliva brings a wealth of experience in international trade and economic diplomacy to his current role as a senior adviser to the deputy assistant secretary for Asia in the Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration. Oliva has also served in Mexico City, Kuala Lumpur, and Frankfurt. He has a bachelor’s in international studies from the University of the Pacific and a master’s in international affairs from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). A fond farewell and deep thanks to Harry Kopp, Aileen Nandi, and Larry Wohlers, who are leaving the board. We thank them for their thoughtful guidance and contributions to the editorial direction of the Journal. n THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | OCTOBER 2024 63
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODIyMDU=