The Foreign Service Journal, November 2003

Experiential Learning with Eugene Schmiel BY ERIN BARRAR, PUBLIC AFFAIRS INTERN W hile the fieldof foreignaffairs does not offermanyoppor- tunities for gaining know-how early on, retired State Department Foreign Service officer Eugene Schmiel is playing an important role inpreparingyoungAmericans tobecome leaders inworldaffairs. Throughworkat the Institute forExperiential Learning inWashington,Dr. Schmiel arranges for students of inter- national relations to gain “hands-on” work experience, spurringnewappreciation for the challenging and rewarding, yet often over- looked, work of America’s Foreign Service. During Schmiel’s 23-year career as a ForeignServiceofficer, from1973 to1996, he served as chargé in three nations: Djibouti, Guinea-Bissau, and Iceland. He also served as consul general inMombasa, Kenya, andas deputyofficedirectorforCentralAfricanaffairs and later for Korean affairs. While working onKorean affairs, he helped facilitate the first political meetings between North and South Korea in the early 1990s. From 1980 to 1982, Schmiel was coordi- nator for the A-100 training course for new Foreign Service officers. In that capacity, Schmiel helpedcreate the “Anthuria”off-site, in which diplomats-in-training would head to Harper’s Ferry for a three-day exercise in real embassy simulation. Studentswouldhan- dle mock crises in the fictional nation of Anthuria. His contribution remained an enduring element of the course (thoughnow the exercise is held at FSI), andmany FSOs have mused that it was avaluablepartoftheirpreparationforoverseasservice. Schmielwould later take the Anthuria experience and put it to effective use in his post-Foreign Service endeavors. Since retirement, Schmiel continues to serve the ForeignService as theDirector forAcademicPrograms at the Institute forExperiential Learning in Washington. IEL is an educational nonprofit organi- zation that provides students with rigorous internship experiences that foster their educationoutsideof theconventional classroomenvi- ronment andprepare themfor success in future careers. Inhis role as academic programs director, Schmiel helps place students from around the world in internships with government agencies, non- profits, lawfirms, businesses andmediaorganizations. These include highly varied placements from the White House to the Discovery Channel to the Washington Capitals Hockey team. Schmiel also runs aunique IELprogramthat he created in1998, theEmbassy andDiplomatic ScholarsProgram, for studentsmajor- ing in international relations. The programoffers students experi- ence in thepractical sideof international studies inaneffort tomold them into future “leaders in foreign affairs,” through work in for- eign embassies, foreign policy agencies, think tanks, or internation- al businesses. Some of the most interesting internship opportuni- ties, according to Schmiel, are those in foreign embassies in Washington. While interning inWashingtonD.C., students also take upper- level courses in international relations and the foreignpolicyprocess. Schmiel teaches a“miniA-100”class forhis students—acrashcourse in theduties of aForeignService officer. The course introduces stu- dents to the trials and tribulations, and also the excitement, of life atanembassy. Schmielnotesthatwhilecount- less students enter the IEL programunaware of the functionandroleof theForeignService, manyarepromptedtotaketheForeignService exam after finishing the program. Schmiel encourages his students to take the examand finds that theknowledgegainedat IEL is indis- pensable to aspiring junior officers. Schmiel is proud that one of his students, Barbara Cordano, reported to her first post in Bolivia this past January, andanother recentlypassed the oral examination. Amonghis other responsibilities, Schmiel hires IEL faculty members, often providing rewardingworkopportunitiesforfellowretired ForeignServiceofficers. Scholars at IELcould not ask formorequalified instructors than the retirees who speak from years of experience intheworkof foreignpolicyand international relations. Schmiel taught history at St. Francis College for four years before joining the Foreign Service, experience that has helped makehis transitionto the IELacademicdirec- tor positiona smoothone. Whennot at IEL, he canbe found teach- ing as an adjunct professor of history and international relations at Marymount and ShenandoahUniversities. He has always enjoyed working with students, and actively encourages them to gain expe- rience through internships like those offered through IEL. Schmiel believes that careers in foreignaffairs arebecoming increasingly chal- lenging, and notes that aspiring leaders must be equipped not only with a strong academic background, but also must gain exposure to culture, foreign languages and an international perspective. To learn more about the IEL program, go to www.ielnet.org. ▫ 8 AFSA NEWS • NOVEMBER 2003 Gene Schmiel with one of his classes of “Embassy Scholars.” From Left: Gene Schmiel, Barbara Cordand (former student, nowan FSO), and A-100 coordinators Kathy Davis and Charlie Peacock. RETIREES IN ACTION