In a complicated world, diplomats are the face of American foreign policy. They represent the United States, coordinate policy and operations, and engage with their host nations. With all these important responsibilities, it is not every day that undergraduate students are able to engage with a diplomat. But recently, Temple students had one such opportunity to better understand their roles.

On Wednesday, November 20th, 2024, U.S. Ambassador to Ecuador Art Brown visited Temple University as part of the State Department’s Hometown Diplomats Program. Ambassador Brown discussed the importance of foreign policy in the world and shared from his 30+ years of experience in international affairs, as well as career opportunities in the Foreign Service, U.S. Agency for International Development (U.S. AID) and the Peace Corps. The event was jointly hosted by the Department of Political Science, the Global Studies Program and the Temple Honors Program. 

During the event, Ambassador Brown detailed his past service in Africa, Southwest Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and talked about his current role overseeing the U.S. diplomatic mission in Ecuador. He shared insights into his time in different federal agencies such as the Peace Corps, the State Department and U.S. AID.

For over 20 years, the Hometown Diplomat program has connected the Department of State directly with the American people. To date, over 2,000 Civil Service and Foreign Service employees have explained their work by speaking to audiences across the country about their lives, their careers and how the State Department’s work impacts American communities.