Global Ambassadors is a professional development program offering mentoring, extracurricular and international experiential learning designed for students interested in careers with international service organizations, including the civil service and Foreign Service. This program creates opportunities for interactions between the students and foreign service officers, civil servants, diplomats, and distinguished professionals in internationally-oriented organizations working on global challenges.
Throughout the year, students learn about foreign policy, foreign service, and its challenges and opportunities. They participate in advising, mentoring, and discussion sessions, interact with former and current foreign service officers. The program is directed by Dr. Max Kovalov, the Bennett Director of the Mroz Global Leadership Institute.
Application Process
Interested in joining the Global Ambassadors Program? Check out program requirements. The annual application usually opens in March.
Global Ambassadors cohorts
Brief Profiles of the New Cohort of Global Ambassadors, 2023-2024
Caroline Berg is a rising junior majoring in political science with a concentration in politics, philosophy, and law with minors in Asian and international studies. She is a member of the CofC equestrian team and is the Chairperson of the Honor Board. She has studied Mandarin Chinese since middle school and is interested in international relations with China. Interested in the structures, functions, and effectiveness of the UN, Caroline wants to work as an international lawyer and a representative at the UN headquarters one day.
Sam Hall is a rising senior majoring in Political Science with a minor in International Studies. With an interest in International Human Rights and LGBTQ+ rights, Sam hopes to go to Law School and pursue a career in International Human Rights Law.
Haley Hawkins is a rising junior in the Honors College majoring in Political Science with a minor in International Studies. She has taken an interest in the Middle East as well as the United Nations and plans to attend Law School before pursuing a career abroad in international law.
Chloe Hudgins is a senior majoring in history and minoring in political science. She is a student-athlete on the sailing team and is interested in pursuing a career in international risk analysis, the U.S. Foreign Service, or national security consulting. After college she hopes to be involved in international affairs, helping to achieve peace and security around the globe.
Sydney Jackson is a junior majoring in Political Science and International Studies. As an International Scholar in the Asian Concentration, Jackson’s focus is on US-China, Southeast Asian, and intelligence/security affairs. She has a strong command of the Chinese language (Mandarin) and firm cultural understandings. After graduating from the college, Jackson hopes to pursue a degree in International Law and continue working towards her long-term goal of becoming an ambassador.
Emmy Joyce is a sophomore studying International Business and International Studies. She is interested in foreign policy and national security, justice, ethics, human rights, and international and comparative governance. She aspires to pursue a career as an international law attorney for a multinational corporation or the U.N.
Patrick Kerrigan is a junior majoring in political science and minoring in economics. He is interested in the politics and economic development of East Asia. He intends to pursue a career as a U.S. foreign service officer and work closely with governments of that region to resolve issues overseas.
Carson Suber is a Senior at the College of Charleston with a Major in Political Science with a concentration in, Philosophy, and Law. Along with his major, he is also an international studies minor. He is a part of the Student Government Association as a Senior Senator. He is interested in pursuing a career in foreign services after graduating College.
Griffin Winn is double majoring in Political Science and International Studies (concentration: Europe) and minoring in French. I studied last semester in La Rochelle, France, where I was able vastly improve my French speaking skills. I am interested in pursuing a career as a US foreign service officer or perhaps doing intelligence work for an organization like the CIA or Interpol.
2024 Field Trip to Washington DC
Global Ambassadors will travel to Washington, D.C. for a week-long field trip in March 2024. During the field trip, the students will visit embassies, international organizations, think-tanks, and the State Department to network and learn about international service careers. In the past two years the previous cohorts of Global Ambassadors visited the following organizations and agencies:
- The Embassy of Germany. We met with Defense Navy attaché Admiral Ristau for a conversation about German foreign policy and the work of the embassy.
- Delegation of the European Union to the US. We met with Deniz Houston, digital policy analyst for a conversation about the EU and foreign policy environment skills.
- National Endowment for Democracy. We met with Anne Tsai-Bennett, NED President’s Chief of Staff and colleagues for discussions about NED’s grant programs and careers with think-tanks in DC.
- Stimson Center. We met with Bryan Finlay, President and CEO of Stimson Center and his colleagues about Stimson’s programs and professional development.
- National Guard Bureau and the Pentagon. We met with General Slaten for a discussion about the National Guard State Partnership Program and General Hokanson, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau.
- The White House
- The Belgium Embassy
- Human Rights Watch, visit with HRW Director Jose Miguel Vivanco
- Der Spiegel
- Observer Research Foundation (ORF) America
- US Agency for International Development (USAID)
- US State Department, visits with CofC alumni working at State Department
Global Ambassadors during the field trip to Washington DC, March 2023
At the State Department with CofC alums Diane Price and MaryAnn Robinson, March 2022
Discussion about careers in think-tanks with Brian Finlay and his team at Stimson Center, 2023
Global Ambassadors at the White House, 2023
Visiting the National Guard Bureau at the Pentagon for a discussion about State Partnerships, 2023
At the EU Delegation to the US during a meeting with CofC Alum Deniz Houston
Meeting with Admiral Axel Ristau, Defense and Navy Attache at the German Embassy
Visiting Chief Correspondent of Der Spiegel Roland Nelles, 2022
At Ethiopian restaurant