Women Rising:

Navigating World Challenges

Presented by American Women for International Understanding

Program Schedule

Thursday, October 6, 2022
International Student House
1825 R Street NW, Washington, D.C.

  • 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
    Registration
  • 9:30 - 9:40 a.m.
    Host Opening
    Ambassador Tatiana Gfoeller-Volkoff, AWIU Past President

Welcome
Maggie Sabbag, AWIU President

  • 9:40 - 9:50 a.m.
    Program Introduction
    Ambassador Eunice Reddick, Symposium Co-chair
  • 9:50 - 10:30 a.m.
    Keynote Address

    Nicholle Manz-Baazaoui, Director for Women’s Civic and Political Empowerment, The Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues, Department of State

  • 10:30 - 10:45 a.m.
    Coffee/Tea Break
  • 10:45 - 11:30 a.m.
    Breakout Sessions:

A: Main Room

How I Overcame Challenges to Bring Change to my Community
Interview with International Woman of Courage (IWOC) Fadia Najib Thabet

Interviewer: Julie Rottier, Advisor on the Middle East,
Office of Global Women’s Issues, Department of State

B: Gallery

Strengthening Diversity in IR Careers

Rachel Thomas, Senior Advisor to Under Secretary Bonnie
Jenkins on DEI, Department of State

Bunmi Akinnusotu, Deputy Director, Rangel Program, Howard University

Moderator: Hadeil Ali, Deputy Director of the Diversity
and Leadership in International Affairs, Project, Center for
Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)

C: Library

Navigating Global Issues

Ambassador Makila James, Senior Advisor, U.S.
Institute of Peace (USIP)

Leslie Schweitzer, CEO of the Osage Group, Chairman of
the Friends of American University of Afghanistan

Moderator: Ambassador Piper Campbell, Senior
Lecturer, American University, School of International
Service

  • 11:30 - 11:45 a.m.
    Break
  • 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.

    Panel discussion:  How to Succeed in IR Careers
    Carmen Iezzi Mezzera, Executive Director, Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA)
    Elizabeth Boesen, Assistant Director for Public Service Initiatives, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University

    Moderator:  Dr. Sherry Lee Mueller, Senior Adjunct Professor, School of International Service, American University            

  • 12:45 -1 p.m.

    Closing Remarks: Pooja Pama, Symposium Co-chair

  • 1 - 3 p.m.
    Lunch, Networking, & Recruitment