Mathias Tientcheu, Public Engagement Specialist at Embassy Yaoundé, has for over two decades been a cornerstone of U.S. public diplomacy in Cameroon, exemplifying creativity, cultural fluency, mentorship, and lasting impact. As an Established Opinion Leaders Specialist, he has led IVLP, Fulbright, university partnerships, and cultural programs including AFCP, while transforming American Corners in Buea and […]
Marion Salvanet is a Public Engagement Specialist at Africa Regional Services at the U. S. Embassy in Paris. She provides vital public diplomacy support to 27 French- and Portuguese-speaking posts in Africa. Over her 20-year career, she has recruited U.S. speakers and performing artists, managed press and digital engagement, and trained and mentored generations of
Naimeh Hadidi, Senior Public Engagement Specialist at U. S. Embassy in Riyadh, has spent four decades building bridges between Saudi society and the U.S. through visionary public diplomacy programs. She has nurtured extensive networks across the Kingdom, mentoring participants and matching them to impactful initiatives, including Saudi Arabia’s first English Language Specialist Program reaching 6,000
Alev Alemdar, Established Opinion Leader Specialist at the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul, has dedicated 27 years to advancing cultural and educational diplomacy with unmatched excellence, integrity, and vision. She has been the cornerstone of the Consulate’s relationships with governments, universities, NGOs, and cultural institutions, guiding nine ambassadors, eight consuls general, and 21 public diplomacy officers
Ana Paula Ferreira is the Public Engagement Specialist, U.S. Embassy Luanda. Public Diplomacy Officer Benjamin Stevenson, in nominating Ana, remarked on her unwavering dedication and exceptional contributions to fostering cultural exchange and understanding between the United States and Angola. Over her 25-year career in Angola, Ana used her encyclopedic knowledge of Angolan cultural history to forge
Ana Paula Ferreira Read More »
Over the past 43 years Marzia Benini, Public Engagement Specialist, U.S. Embassy Rome, has advanced U.S. foreign policy in Italy, helping strengthen the relationship and reinforce shared democratic values. Her creativity and dedication engaged new audiences and strengthened established contacts in think tanks, labor unions, professional associations, civil society organizations, and academia. With each new policy challenge, she has
Rasa Baukuviene joined the Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Embassy Vilnius in 1994, just four years after Lithuania regained independence from the Soviet Union. As U.S.-Lithuania exchange programs rapidly expanded in the late 1990s and 2000s, Rasa worked tirelessly to build an institutional framework to make these programs sustainable, impactful, and appealing to Lithuanian applicants. In
As the Resource Coordinator, U.S. Embassy Oslo, Claire was instrumental in the October 2023 opening of the American Presence Post in Tromso, Norway, based on her years of experience understanding the most effective ways to engage the disparate communities of the Arctic. Over Claire’s long career she has continuously demonstrated her commitment to the development
As a 20-year veteran of Embassy Kyiv’s Public Diplomacy Section, Valentyna Pashkova exemplifies the highest standards of creativity, passion, and commitment to cultural and educational diplomacy. As the American Spaces Program Specialist, she has been instrumental in developing and sustaining the network of 26 American centers, shelves, and spaces across Ukraine that are a model
Valentyna Pashkova Read More »