U.S. State Department Opportunities for Students and Alumni

On Thursday, May 4th, the Stone Center hosted “Area Studies and Careers in the State Department”, where we welcomed three officials in the U.S. State Department, two of whom are Tulane alumni. The panel was followed by a Q & A. Panelists included J. Nathan Bland, Diplomat in Residence, Douglas Pitkin (BA, 1989), Director of the Bureau of Budget and Planning, and Ruth Urry (MA, 1997), Public Diplomacy Officer.  

Nathan Bland shared logistics about roles in the U.S. State Department and student programs, including internships, fellowships, and study abroad opportunities. Douglas Pitkin explained that recent alumni with Tulane degrees are encouraged to take the Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT) because they are great candidates for positions in the Foreign Service. Ruth Urry discussed her background working in Latin America, her first assignment in the Philippines, and the importance of networking. For more insights, watch the video here.