In October 2024, American Councils commemorated its 50th anniversary with the conference, Public Diplomacy and International Education in the 21st Century. Held at the Jack Morton Auditorium, the conference was co-hosted by George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs, the Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication, and the Institute for Data, Democracy, and Politics.
The conference brought together a virtual and in-person audience of hundreds of global supporters, allies, and stakeholders, as well as leaders from diplomacy, government, business, and academia for dynamic panel discussions on the transformative impact of international education and its crucial role in peacebuilding and innovation.
Keynote Address
The conference opened with remarks from Ms. Lisa Choate, President and CEO of American Councils and a keynote address by Madam President Atifete Jahjaga, former President of the Republic of Kosova and founder of the Jahjaga Foundation.
“American Councils never shied away from the difficult, from the complicated.” said Ms. Choate, reflecting on the organization’s history and mission, and the impact it had on international dialogue during turbulent geopolitical times. “The vision and DNA of our founders has made us not just ambitious, but undeterred by obstacles.”
President Jahjaga emphasized the influence of public diplomacy worldwide and the impact it had on Kosova’s development. “For half a century, American Councils have been visionaries, pioneers of international exchange and public diplomacy. And I have no doubts that the next 50 years will bring even more success and progress,” said President Jahjaga.
The Crucial Role of Languages & Area Studies in Sustaining Strong International Ties
The next panel discussed the transformative experience of language and cultural immersion programs and how they benefit U.S. officials’ ability to communicate national interests and strengthen ties globally.
Dr. Dan E. Davidson, President Emeritus and Co-Founder of American Councils, shared insights on American Councils' mission to prepare U.S. citizens to tackle global challenges by providing them with in-depth overseas language and cultural immersion experiences.
“Individuals who have gone on to use their language and area study skills to advance mutual understanding, strengthen U.S. national security and ensure that U.S. decision makers ... are guided by a more nuanced and multifaceted understanding of the social, historical, and political context surrounding today’s global and international issues,” said Dr. Davidson.
The panel featured Dr. Mike Nugent, former Director of the National Security Education Program, Dr. Betty Lou Leaver, former Provost of the Defense Language Institute, Ambassador John Ordway, former ambassador to Armenia and Kazakhstan, and Ms. Sydney Stotter, a PhD candidate at Harvard University and alumna of several programs administered by American Councils.
Media, Disinformation, and the Challenges Posed to Public Diplomacy
The conference concluded with an energetic discussion about misinformation, disinformation and its outcomes on public diplomacy, moderated by Mr. Frank Sesno, Emmy-winning journalist and Director of Strategic Initiatives at George Washington University.
Mr. Sesno addressed the concerns about the experiences and learning outcomes of students of exchange programs, particularly regarding their understanding of both the world and the U.S., and the perspectives they bring from their home countries.
Mr. Benjamin Thurn, Program Manager for Media Literacy Programs at American Councils, spoke about the necessity of preparing international students with the tools to challenge disinformation about the United States they may encounter.
“Maybe they’ve been bombarded about misinformation, disinformation about what’s it like to live in the United States. That’s a fault line that our adversaries tried to exploit,” said Mr. Thurn. “What better person to tell their story about what’s it actually like to live in the United States than someone who goes through that experience?”
Watch the entire panel discussion, featuring Dr. Ethan Porter, Associate Professor of Media & Public Affairs and Political Science at George Washington University, and Dr. Sumitra Badrinathan, Assistant Professor of Politics, Governance, and Economics at American University.
American Councils sincerely appreciates the individuals and organizations whose generosity made this work possible. Special thanks to the dedicated staff, board of trustees, and volunteers who support our mission and our participants. We extend our sincere appreciation to the conference sponsors. Their support directly benefits American Councils’ flagship scholarships—the Dan E. Davidson Fellowship and the David P. Patton Distinguished Alumni Award.