U.S. Department of State

Ann Mei Chang

Franklin Fellow Ann Mei Chang assisting in bringing internet access to developing countries.

Read the article at http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-02-04/hillary-clinton-helps-silicon-valley-on-her-way-out-the-door

Amalia Ruiz

The Franklin Fellows Program welcomes Ms. Amalia Ruiz, the 149th Franklin Fellow. Ms. Ruiz is assigned to the Bureau of Population, Refugee, and Migration where she serves as an Advisor on International Migration.

Emilio Oritz

The Franklin Fellows Program cordially welcomes, Mr. Emilio M. Ortiz, the 145th Franklin Fellow. He serves as an advisor to the Special Representative on Global Intergovernmental Affairs (S/SRGIA), counseling on matters related to trade, investment, economic development, finance and international organizations.

Mark A. Rosmann

The Franklin Fellows Program is pleased to introduce Mr. Mark A. Rosmann, the 146th Franklin Fellow. He is assigned to the Office of Global Food Security where he serves as an advisor on the Feed the Future Program, New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition, and food and agricultural policy around the world.

Corey Holmes

The Franklin Fellows Program is pleased to welcome Mr. Corey Holmes, the Department’s 144th Franklin Fellow, who serves in IRM’s Office of eDiplomacy.  Among the projects Mr. Holmes will advance is the Virtual Student Foreign Service (VSFS) Program, with a goal to recruit more diverse undergraduate and graduate students to participate.

Debbie Ghamkhar

The Franklin Fellow Program cordially welcomes Ms. Debbie Ghamkhar, the 142nd Franklin Fellow. Debbie is assigned to the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs/Office of Regional Economic Policy where she serves as Outreach Coordinator advising on initiatives that include women’s entrepreneurial start-ups, small and medium-sized business development, energy sustainability, education and social protection in the Americas.

Christopher Hucke

The Franklin Fellows Program is pleased to introduce the 141st Franklin Fellow, Mr. Christopher Hucke, now serving in the Bureau of Counterterrorism’s Office of Terrorist Designations and Sanctions (CT/HSMA/D).  He brings to his position unique field and technical experience in the Islamic world and in counterterrorism.

Franklin Fellow Luis Alvarez travels to Vladivostok, Russia

In September 2012, Franklin Fellow Luis Alvarez was part of Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs Reta Jo Lewis’ team that negotiated a Joint-Statement on Strengthening U.S.-Russian Interregional Cooperation. This statement was announced at the 2012 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders Week in Vladivostok, Russia. Luis was privileged to travel to Vladivostok and to participate in the negotiations.

 A  DipNote about the Statement was published by Special Representative Reta Jo Lewis and can be found at http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/entry/us_russia_subnational_engagement_communities

Pamela Phan

The Franklin Fellows Program warmly welcomes Pamela N. Phan. She serves in the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs as a Special Advisor to the Office of Investment Affairs (EB/OIA).  Her role is to advise on matters relating to U.S. investment, promotion of market-based investment standards, and encouragement of sound investment policies in the East Asia and Pacific region, with an emphasis on China.  She also supports on investment protection, promotion, policy, and disputes involving other regions of the world and assists in multilateral international investment negotiations.

Sharon Jackson

The Franklin Fellows Program welcomes Ms. Sharon P. Jackson. She enters the Oceans, International Environment and Science Bureau’s Office of International Health and Biodefense (OES/IHB) as an expert advisor for policy.  OES/IHB’s many goals include strengthening biodefense and enhancing global health security and systems.

Yadira Maldonado

Please join the Franklin Fellows Program in welcoming Yadira Maldonado, our 134th Franklin Fellow. At USAID, Yadira serves as an Advisor for Financial Management Policy and Implementation in the Financial Policy & Support (FPS) Division of the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) in the Bureau for Management. As part of the FPS policy team, Yadira reviews existing financial management policy directives and revises and coauthors the Automated Directive Systems (ADS) Financial Management series to promote OCFO’s mission to maintain “world-class” financial management practices on USAID’s international missions.

FF Prof. Dr. Vaseashta serves as Director of an Advanced Research Workshop in Yerevan, Armenia

FF Dr. Vaseashta served as a NATO countries co-director of an ARW titled “Technological Innovations in CBRNE Sensing and Detection for Safety, Security, and Sustainability” held in Yerevan, Armenia. The workshop aimed to discuss novel concepts in science, technology, and designs of sensors and detectors for Chemical/Biological/Radiological/ Improvised explosives (CBRNE) with applications in safety and security supporting NATO’s smart defence doctrine. Scientists, technologists and end-users from 22 countries gathered for three days, attending invited and contributed talks that led to many networking sessions, formal and informal discussions. Dr. Vaseashta introduced several complex, kinetic, and unpredictable challenges our society currently faces and tasked the workshop participants with exploring technological solutions to counter CBRNE threats in both point and stand-off detection modes. The important topic of water security was also introduced and discussed in detail, with topics ranging from advanced real-time sensors of contaminants, to contamination specific remediation strategies. One of the sessions was devoted to policy, e-diplomacy, compliance, and implementation challenges where discussion included several government/federal agency requirements, as well as how the scientific community can bridge technology gap using advanced technological solutions. Dr. Brian Nordmann, Director of VTT/AVC and Dr. Lilian Zia, FF fellow in e-diplomacy also attended and contributed to the workshop. The workshop was generously supported by NATO’s Science for Peace and Security Program.

Dr. Vaseashta currently serves as a Franklin Fellow in the Office of Verification and Transparency Technologies, which leads the State Department’s Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance in identifying technological solutions for verification and compliance issues for current and future arms control challenges, thereby enabling policy choices.

FF Prof. Dr. Ashok Vaseashta Awarded Gold Medal from State Engineering University of Armenia

The President of the State Engineering University of Armenia (SEUA) Academic Council and Ministry of Education and Science of Republic of Armenia recognized Franklin Fellow Prof. Dr. Ashok Vaseashta as a prominent researcher and a leading specialist in nanotechnologies. The SEUA Academic Council voted on a resolution (#18) to award the SEUA Gold medal to Dr. Vaseashta. The award was made by the SEUA Rector Acad. Prof. Dr. Avetisyan to Prof. Dr. Vaseashta on 01 October 2012 during his presentation titled “Ecosystem of Technological Innovations in Nanotechnologies for Safety, Security, and Sustainability”.

Dr. Vaseashta currently serves as a Franklin Fellow in the Office of Verification and Transparency Technologies, which leads the State Department’s Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance in identifying technological solutions for verification and compliance issues for current and future arms control challenges, thereby enabling policy choices.

Franklin Fellow Prof. Dr. Ashok Vaseashta gives invited and keynote lectures and conference presentations in Turkey, Croatia, Bulgaria, Poland and Czech Republic

Franklin Fellow Prof. Ashok Vaseashta is frequently invited by NATO Defense against Terrorism Centers to deliver lectures on Technology Innovations providing tactical superiority to our warfighters and in the fight against terrorism, supporting NATO’s smart defense doctrine. This summer, he was invited by several organizations to give a series of lectures on Technology Innovations in CBRNE Sensing and Detection, Force Protection, and Decontamination.

Dr. Vaseashta was invited to deliver the keynote presentation at the International Conference on Science for Defense and Security 2012 (ICSDS2012) held in Çeşme-İzmir, Turkey. The talk was attended by security professionals and scientists/researchers working on sensing and detection of IEDs. Following this meeting, he delivered an invited keynote lecture at the 2nd Adriatic School on Nanoscience (ASON-2), Nanoscience from Synthesis to Characterization, held in Dubrovnik, Croatia.  The audience consisted of Noble laureate Prof. Kroto from the U.S., Prof. Tenne, a leading scientist from Israel, and several well-known scientists around the world and graduate students from Universities in Zagreb. The next lecture was by invitation of the Georgi Nadjakov Institute of Solid State Physics of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Dr. Vaseashta presented an invited lecture at the 17th International School on Condensed Matter Physics -  Open Problems in Condensed Matter Physics, Biomedical Physics and their Applications, held in Varna Bulgaria. The talk was attended by several scientists and graduate students. Following that, Dr. Vaseashta was invited by the European Structural Integrity Society, TC6 – “Ceramics” to present an invited lecture at the European Materials Research Society meeting held in Warsaw, Poland. This was followed by a plenary lecture at the NANOSMAT conference held in Prague, Czech Republic.

Dr. Vaseashta currently serves as a Franklin Fellow in the Office of Verification and Transparency Technologies, which leads the State Department’s Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance in identifying technological solutions for verification and compliance issues for current and future arms control challenges, thereby enabling policy choices.

Dr. Steven Berbeco

The Franklin Fellows Program is delighted to welcome Dr. Steven Berbeco who is our 132nd Franklin Fellow.   Dr. Berbeco serves in FSI’s School of Language Studies (FSI/SLS) as the Senior Adviser for Language Teaching Methodology. He works with the SLS Director for Curriculum and Staff Development, the Division Directors and the Dean’s Office to conduct research and formulate recommendations on teaching methodologies.

Dr. Robert Forsythe

The Franklin Fellows Program is pleased to inform that our 131st Franklin Fellow is Dr. Robert Forsythe of the University of South Florida.  Dr. Forsythe is assigned to the Bureau of the Comptroller and Financial Services and is our first-ever Fellow in Charleston, South Carolina.  He serves as a senior financial analyst in the Office of Global Financial Operations (CGFS/F) and will be working on special projects throughout the year.

In honor of those U.S. Department of State employees lost in Libya

The Franklin Fellows Program mourns the loss of our fellow colleagues and expresses its deepest sympathy to its families.

In honor of those U.S. Department of State employees lost in Libya.

Dr. Bidisha Biswas

It is our great pleasure to welcome our 130th Franklin Fellow, Dr. Bidisha Biswas.  Bidisha is assigned to DRL’s Office of South and Central Asian Affairs, where she advises on South Asia policy issues.

Franklin Fellows Lead Tennis Team to Win

2011 alum Brian Campbell and Jenny Stein led the Department’s 2012 tennis team to its fourth consecutive Intergovernmental Agency Tennis League Doubles Championship in August in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1932, the Intergovernmental Agency Tennis League is the longest running athletic competition in the Federal Government.  Campbell, who went undefeated at the number one spot, is a former top singles and doubles player and was twice named All-American and inducted into the Truman State University Athletic Hall of Fame. Brian currently serves as Special Advisor in the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ Office of Public and Diplomatic Liaison.

Former Franklin Fellow Brian Campbell is second from the left and Former Franklin Fellow Jenny Stein is fourth from the right.

Dr. Severus Tackett

We are pleased to welcome our 129th Franklin Fellow, Dr. Severus Tackett.  Severus serves in the Secretary’s Office of the Special Representative for Global and Intergovernmental Affairs (S/SRGIA), where he works with the U.S. interagency community, stakeholders and both foreign and domestic state and local leaders, ultimately playing a key role in developing and monitoring S/SRGIA office management policies and SOPs.  He also works on several of the Office’s functional interests, including sustainable urban development, trade and economic issues, finance and multilateral/international organizations and institutions.

Franklin Fellow James Carden Travels to Russia with U.S. Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs Reta Jo Lewis

Franklin Fellow James Carden was part of the Special Representative Reta Jo Lewis’ delegation in which he represented the Office of Russian Affairs (EUR/RUS) as Advisor to the U.S-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission.

 In the span of 12 days, the delegation traveled over 20,000 miles and had the honor to meet with, among others, the Governor of the Moscow Oblast, the Governor of the Leningrad Oblast, the Vice-Governor of Primorsky Krai, and the Mayors of Vladivostok and Artyom.  Carden states, “It was truly a privilege to meet and work with the Foreign Service Officers and Foreign Service Nationals who worked incredibly hard on making the Special Representative’s trip the success that it was.”  

To read more about the trip from the U.S. Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs Reta Jo Lewis’ perspective, please visit http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/entry/us_russia_subnational_engagement.

Dr. Waymond Rodgers

We are happy to inform you that our 126th Franklin Fellow is Dr. Waymond Rodgers. Dr. Rodgers is assigned to the Office of USAID’s Chief Financial Officer, where he serves as a key member of the Central Accounting and Reporting Division (CAR).   He will contribute to the development of a coherent knowledge transfer strategy and implementation plan to support CAR’s knowledge transfer effort.

Former FF Tim Ford at Lockheed Martin

This past March, Tim Ford accepted a new assignment within Lockheed Martin as a financial planning and analysis analyst for Lockheed Martin’s Global Training and Logistics (LM GTL) division located in Orlando, FL.  Prior to this, he worked as an accounting lead for the due diligence, acquisition, and integration of a Dutch commercial flight simulator company based outside of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where he was a recipient of a Global Excellence Team Award presented by LM GTL.  As a Franklin Fellow, Tim worked for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs on the Japan Desk. As an economic analyst, he focused on U.S.-Japan macroeconomic relations, promoting foreign direct investment initiatives, and developing the U.S.-Japan Cooperation Policy Dialogue on the Internet Economy.

FF Albana Karakushi briefs the FFP staff about her work on the “Roma Decade of Inclusion”

Former Franklin Fellow Albana Karakushi briefed the FFP staff, as she finished her fellowship, about her work as a Franklin Fellow on the “Roma Decade of Inclusion” (“Decade”).  Speaking about the United States’ goals in the area of Romani rights and inclusion, Albana noted Secretary Clinton’s statement that it was important to make sure that Roma were not "...marginalized and isolated, prevented from contributing their talents and participating in their societies."  She added that the young Roma professionals who met with the Secretary remind us that barriers can be broken, even when they stretch across time and borders.  For that to happen for every Roma, however, institutional and societal obstacles need to be overcome.

Albana said she was very proud that her bureau, the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL), had led the effort within the State Department for the USG to join the "Decade."   In addition to Secretary Clinton's strong personal commitment, Albana cited the efforts of DRL Assistant Secretary Posner, Deputy Assistant Secretary Melia and many others to bring U.S. membership to fruition, a membership that has highlighted the importance that the USG puts on Roma inclusion.  As DAS Melia said in a speech on the occasion of International Roma Day: "Only through the respect for the human rights and dignity of every individual, irrespective of ethnicity, race, religion, national origin or other protected grounds, can we achieve security, economic prosperity and cultural richness that stems from the embrace of diversity."

Former Franklin Fellow Jennie Marie at Aspen Institute’s Center for Native American Youth

Former Franklin Fellow Jennie Marie Duran has joined the staff of the Aspen Institute’s Center for Native American Youth.  Jennie Marie is the Senior Program Manager focusing on policy for Native American youth issues, such as suicide prevention.  While serving as a Franklin Fellow, Jennie Marie was assigned to the Secretary’s Office of Civil Rights.  An attorney, she held briefings on diversity as well as served as the Native American Special Emphasis manager to connect the Department of State with outreach opportunities.  The Franklin Fellows Program greatly appreciates all her contributions at the Department of State and wishes her the best in her new role at Aspen.

Franklin Fellow Luis R. Alvarez Jr. attends the 80th U.S. Conference of Mayors

From June 13-16, Franklin Fellow Luis R. Alvarez Jr. attended the 80th U.S. Conference of Mayors in Orlando, Florida.  Luis was a member of the Department of State delegation, which met with U.S. mayors.  Luis also participated in the International Committee that led to the mayors’ passing a resolution on sub-national cooperation with Brazil.  The resolution states, inter alia:

“The U.S. Conference of Mayors seeks to strengthen cooperation between cities and the State Department to strengthen our nation’s international ties, increase U.S. exports abroad, and grow foreign investment in U.S. cities, by engaging with Brazilian State and Local governments in cooperation surrounding major sporting events including the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games.”

Visit http://usmayors.org/resolutions/80th_Conference/ for more information about the conference and the adopted resolutions.

Jimmy Hock

We are pleased to welcome our 124th Fellow, Jimmy Hock. Jimmy serves in IRM’s Office of eDiplomacy , where he is working on a portfolio designed to advance diplomacy through innovative uses of technology to further Secretary Clinton’s call for 21st Century Statecraft.

Former Franklin Fellow Lorraine Riffle Hawley Honored by the University of Georgia

Former Franklin Fellow, Lorraine Riffle Hawley, was selected as one of the University of Georgia Alumni Association’s “40 Under 40.” The “40 Under 40” program honors 40 University of Georgia alumni under the age of 40 who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in business or philanthropy, made an impact in their communities, and shown a lifelong commitment to the University’s core values of wisdom, justice and moderation. Lorraine is currently the Director of International Government Relations for Archer Daniels Midland Company and served as a Franklin Fellow in the Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs Office of Economic Policy. Lorraine graduated from the University of Georgia in 1998 with a degree in Journalism from the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Alan Hurd

We are very pleased to announce that our 123rd Franklin Fellow is Dr. Alan J. Hurd.  Alan joins the Office of the Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary (E/STAS), where his portfolio includes critical elements and the return on investment for federally funded research.

William Adler

We are delighted to welcome our 122nd Franklin Fellow, William Adler. Bill is a Counselor in EB’s Office of International Communications and Information Policy (EB/CIP), where he advises the Coordinator on policies related to international satellite regulations, national security aspects of international communications and information policy, cyber security, and cooperation with domestic and foreign law enforcement agencies.

FF Roger Ingram

Dr. Roger Ingram serves in the Secretary’s Global Health Initiative (S/GHI), where he focuses on creating strategic partnerships resulting in health and well-being in our interconnected world.

FF Karen Newman Participates in New York Forum Africa

Karen Newman participated as an invited delegate to participate in the recent New York Forum Africa conference held in Libreville, Gabonfrom June 8-11th. The program featured a day 3 day business forum and one day program, Dialogue for Action Africa, initiated by the Cecilia Attias Foundation for Women. This novel event was hosted by President Ali Bongo Ondimba and the First Lady of Gabon. A variety of featured conversations included Andrew Young, former US Ambassador to the UN, and then with Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, the founder of Grameen Bank. A series of plenary sessions included conversations with Jean Ping, President of the African Union Commission, the actor Robert DeNiro, and Lord Mandelson, former cabinet minister and European Commissioner. The invited guests from more than 50 countries shared ideas and suggestions during themed workshops focusing on key areas of Africa’s economic development.

The Women’s program events featured a cross section of speakers including the First Ladies of Gabon, Rwanda, Nigeria, Namibia, Burkina Faso. Other panels included a unique mix of notable women leaders involved in peace and security, education and health, including Irina Bokova, (Director General, UNESCO), Zainab Salbi (Humanitarian, Founder Women for Women), Holly Gordon (Executive Director, 10x10 program), and Dr. Amy Lehman (President Lake Tanganyika Floating Health Clinic).

FF Brian Campbell Coordinates Passport Office Video

Franklin Fellow Brian Campbell, who works as a Special Advisor in the  Bureau of Consular Affairs, helped produce a video entitled “Visit America” as its lead coordinator.  The video demonstrates the State Department’s commitment to welcoming tourism and business from around the world, as well as improvements made to the VISA application process. The project was a collaborative effort between Bureau of Consular Affairs, Bureau of International Information, and various US Embassies and Consulates. Click here to see the video.

Former Franklin Fellow Arsalan Suleman attends the Brookings Institution’s U.S.-Islamic World Forum

Former Franklin Fellow Arsalan Suleman traveled recently to Doha, Qatar to attend the Brookings Institution’s U.S.-Islamic World Forum, a forum for leaders in various fields to discuss pressing issues affecting U.S. relations with Muslim-majority countries and communities.  Suleman participated in workshop sessions on political transitions in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia, along with various members of new political parties from those countries.  Suleman also met and engaged with various participants on U.S. policy regarding the transitions in the Middle East and North Africa and on other relevant human rights issues.

Franklin Fellow Todd Fein attends the Greening Council Working Group Meeting

Pictures of Franklin Fellow Todd Fein attending the monthly Department-wide Greening Council Working Group meeting. Fein is helping the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) draft an annual report and roadmap to automation for enhancing sustainability worldwide.

Franklin Fellows Participated in a Recent Economic Statecraft Strategy Session

Current and former Franklin Fellows participated in a recent Economic Statecraft strategy session. From left to right, Franklin Fellow Jackie Spedding; Jose Fernandez, Assistant Secretary for Economic and Business Affairs; Lorraine Hariton, Director of the Office of Commercial and Business Affairs; Franklin Fellow Cora Neumann; and former Franklin Fellow Shelly Porges.

Franklin Fellow Clint Gardiner

Franklin Fellow Clint Gardiner recently helped organize a meeting for the Office of the Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment (E) called “Safeguarding Intellectual Property and Preventing Corruption in Global Markets.  The event attracted people from a cross section of industry and U.S. government agencies.  Clint, who serves in the Office of International Intellectual Property Enforcement (IPE)  in the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, has had a distinguished career as a corporate lawyer and with law firms.

For more information regarding the meeting for E, please visit http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/entry/old_problems_new_ideas_ipr

Franklin Fellow Bob Ransom

On May 9-10, Franklin Fellow Bob Ransom, advisor to Judy Heumann, played a major role in organizing the “Leadership Conference on International Disability Rights,” which attracted some 150 participants from U.S. human rights, international development, and disability organizations.  The conference featured a video message from the Secretary as well as speeches by Samantha Power, Special Assistant to the President, and Harold Koh, State Department Legal Counsel.  The conference included expert panels which examined issues such as “What are disability rights violations?”, “Why promote and monitor disability rights?” and “What are successful approaches and examples of disability rights promotion and inclusion?” The purpose of the conference was not only to raise awareness of disability rights and foster increased engagement among participants, but to also collect input for the formulation of a Department-wide international disability rights policy.

FF Jackie Spedding Empowers Peru’s Women Business Owners

WeConnect International, a non-profit that focuses on empowering women to succeed in the modern global supply chain, has partnered with USAID and the State Department’s Pathways to Access Initiative (PAI) in Peru. On May 3rd, WeConnect released a video synopsis of February’s delegation, in which economists, corporate leaders and government officials, including FF Jackie Spedding, the Senior Advisor for the Global Women’s Business Initiative (GWBI). To watch the WeConnect video, click here. Read more about Jackie here.

Former FF Jen Osetek is featured in the May 2012 issue of George Mason Univ’s “PIA Perspectives 2011”

Former Franklin Fellow Jen Osetek is featured in the latest May 2012 issue of George Mason University’s “PIA Perspectives 2011” in an article titled “Biodefense Combines Theory, Real-World Experience – click here to see page 6 of the article.

Former FF Shelly Porges attended the recent Global Entrepreneurship Congress

Former Franklin Fellow Shelly Porges, Senior Advisor, Entrepreneurship and the Director of the Global Entrepreneurship Program, attended the recent Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Liverpool, UK. Shelly spoke to the heads of Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) from all over the world on how GEP and our Embassies are supporting GEW.

FF Ann Mei Chang Tech Talk

Franklin Fellow Ann Mei Chang of Google did a Tech Talk for the Global Broadband and Innovations Program at USAID on February 20th on the topic of considering gender issues when building apps for development projects. Check out the DipNote on February 27th with a summary of the topic and link to the video of the talk.

Lillian Zia

We are pleased to announce that our 119th Franklin Fellow is Lillian Zia.  Lillian is serving in IRO’s Office of eDiplomacy, where she is the Senior Innovation Advisor.  Lillian’s portfolio is to look for opportunities to leverage technology for diplomacy around the world.

Laurel Voloder

We are pleased to inform you that Dr. Laurel S. Voloder is our 117th Franklin Fellow.  Laurel, our 117th Fellow, is assigned to DRL’s Office of International Religious Freedom, charged with monitoring and reporting on religious persecution and discrimination and with formulating U.S. policies and programs to promote religious freedom around the world.  Laurel will oversee policy development and program activities in a portfolio comprising countries in Eastern and South-Central Europe.

Erin Duggins

We are pleased to announce Erin Duggins as our 116th Franklin Fellow. Erin is serving in the Office of USAID’s Chief Operating Officer, where she is a Senior Advisor and will help USAID establish and institutionalize a new Internal Communications and Engagement Team.  In that capacity, Erin will develop a multi-faceted, multi channel communications strategy that establishes a unified platform by which USAID can reach out to 9000 staff, plus PSCs and institutional contractors, located in 80 countries and 3 DC offices with then information needed to achieve results, keep people connected, build community and retain staff that is more than 50% new hires (within past three years).

Debra Gulick

We are pleased to announce that our 115th Franklin Fellow is Debra Gulick.  Debra, who began her fellowship on April 4th, serves in ISN’s Office of the Coordinator for Threat Reduction Programs, where her duties include assisting and advising Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins in her role as Chair of the Global Partnership Working Group (GPWG) in 2012 and as the U.S. representative to the GPWG in 2013.  She will be working closely with the National Security Staff and their efforts in leading the Biosecurity Working Group of the Global Partnership.  She will also be serving as liaison for ISN/TR with U.S. departments and agencies for activities related to the 2014 Nuclear Security Summit.

David Mandel-Anthony

The Franklin Fellows Program is very pleased to announce that our 114th Franklin Fellow is David Mandel-Anthony.  David, who began his fellowship on March 14, joins the Office of Global Criminal Justice (formerly the Office of War Crimes Issues).  His portfolio in J/GCJ includes accountability and transitional justice issues in Sudan, South Sudan, and Kenya and ongoing legal and policy planning in regards to international criminal tribunals.

FF Luis Alvarez and the Office of Global Intergovernmental Affairs Negotiates MOU between U.S. and Brazil Officials

On Monday, April 9, 2012, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Brazilian Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on State and Local Cooperation.  This agreement was signed on the margins of the “Brazil-U.S. Partnership for the 21st Century” conference which took place in Washington, D.C. during Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff’s visit to the United States.  Franklin Fellow Luis R. Alvarez Jr., working in the Office of Global Intergovernmental Affairs, was integral part of the negotiations of the MOU and has worked for the past year on promoting sub-national engagement between U.S. State and Local officials and their counterparts from around the world. The MOU on State and Local Cooperation is highlighted in the fourth paragraph of the Joint Statement by President Obama and President Rouseff (see below for link to statement).”

Link to the White House:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/04/09/joint-statement-president-obama-and-president-rousseff

Names of the dignitaries in the signing photograph:

1. Brazilian Ambassador Mauro Vieira
2. Brazilian Minister Carlos de Abreu
3. Lauro Gusmão, Executive Secretary from the Secretary of Government, State of Pernambuco
4. Aguinaldo Ribeiro, Minister of the Cities
5. Luciano Almeida, Chairman, Investe Sao Paulo
6. Benito Gama, Secretary of Development, Rio Grande do Norte
7. Maurício Rands, Secretary of Government, Pernambuco
8. Maryland Deputy Secretary of State Rajan Natarajan
9. U.S. Ambassador to Brazil Thomas A. Shannon, Jr.
10. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta S. Jacobson
11. Illinois Governor Pat Quinn
12. Pennsylvania State Senator Mike Brubaker
13. Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs Reta Jo Lewis
14. Nevada Assemblyman and Chairman, International Committee, Council of State Governments, Marcus Conklin

At the table:

1. Brazilian Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota
2. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton