Successful Washington, D.C. Panel Caps Global Leadership Institute
04/16/2009
Melissa La Bouff,
The Global Leadership Institute (GLI), the graduate-level executive education program and study abroad destination for postgraduate researchers and students at IR/PS, led a professional tour to Washington, D.C. for 14 GLI Fellows. Professional tours, part of the GLI curriculum, are trips to government agencies and companies relevant to the Fellows' interests and careers.
During the Fellows' March 24-28, 2009 spring break, they participated in meetings with professionals at the State Department, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the Treasury Department, the World Bank Group, Congressional Research Service, United States Institute of Peace, and Korea Economic Institute as well as a tour of the East Wing at the White House. IR/PS alumni were very involved with the organization of three meetings: Mr. Jeffrey Baker '00 at the Treasury Department; Mr. Kristofor Erickson '07 at OMB and the East Wing of the White House; and Mr. Trevor Monroe '06 at the World Bank Group.
At the State Department, the Fellows met with Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Mr. Alex Arvizu. At the United States Institute of Peace, the Fellows met with Dr. John S. Park, one of the panelists on last year’s Washington, D.C. IR/PS panel. At the Treasury Department, the Fellows met with Mr. Michael Drucker, an Economist with the Markets Room, Dr. Mike Pisa, Economist for the East Asia Desk and a UC San Diego alumnus, and Mr. T.T. Yang, Deputy Director for the East Asia Desk.
In addition to the meetings, the GLI Fellows attended the tremendously successful IR/PS panel and reception on the evening of Thursday, March 26th, moderated by IR/PS alumna Dr. Kati Suominen '04. Dr. Peter Cowhey of the Office of United States Trade Representative (USTR), currently on leave as Dean of IR/PS, gave the opening remarks for the panel discussion. The Honorable Carolina Barco, Ambassador from Colombia to the United States, also attended the event. The panelists included comments from Mr. Gabriel Duque, Vice Minister for Foreign Trade of Colombia; IR/PS faculty and GLI Chair Professor Richard Feinberg; and Mr. Bill Lane, Washington Director of Government Affairs at Caterpillar. In addition to the 14 GLI Fellows, 40 IR/PS alumni, 23 MPIA students, and 5 prospective MPIA students were in attendance for an amazing event. This is the third year that four IR/PS administrative units have collaborated in producing an event of this magnitude in Washington, D.C.
