The Foreign Service Journal, December 2018

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | DECEMBER 2018 5 December 2018 Volume 95, No. 10 FOREIGN SERVICE Cover Story: AFSA Annual Awards 2018 21 Working to Strengthen U.S. Diplomacy Ambassador Ronald E. Neumann, the recipient of AFSA’s 2018 Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy Award, talks with the FSJ about his career at the center of some of America’s toughest foreign policy challenges. Education Supplement 95 Get a Head Start on the College Admissions Process Getting into college is a complicated and daunting process. Here is a plan for circumventing the stress. By Fr a n c e s c a Ke l l y 108 Schools At a Glance 112 Opportunities for Students A selection of government programs for students interested in foreign policy and international affairs. Message from the Hill 10 Working Together for a Smart Foreign Policy By Se n a t o r Ch r i s Co o n s 32 Through the Lens of an FSN: Foreign Service in Pictures A retired FSN reflects on his experience working for the United States in Nigeria. By I d i k a On y u kwu 37 Advocating for Foreign Service Nationals The FSN Advocacy Council has been representing USAID’s global FSN employees since 2005. By Sa f i a A l - Sa a d 42 Get Ready for Merit Based Compensation The new performance management program for Locally Employed staff offers many benefits for staff and supervisors alike. By E l i z a b e t h L aMo n t a g n e Focus on FSN Perspectives 46 In the Field with USAID FSNs 53 What Local Staff Want You to Know Locally employed staff around the world offer their perspectives on working for U.S. missions.