The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Global Studies program hosted “Coffee with a Diplomat” on Feb. 22. The event, hosted every semester, was an opportunity for students interested in a career in foreign service to ask about the job.
Robert Andrew is the current diplomat in residence for Nebraska, South Dakota, Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri and is residing in Norman at the University of Oklahoma. He is a Foreign Service officer in the U.S. Department of State and was the Political Section Chief at the U.S. Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden from 2011 to 2014.
His career has taken him all over the world, including San Jose, Costa Rica, Moscow and Mexico City.
“The problem with living in paradise is that you still have to work in paradise,” Andrew said at the event. “Which almost makes it worse.”He also served in the U.S. Army from 1989 to 2002 and received a Meritorious Service Medal for his service.
Emira Ibrahimpasic, the assistant director of the global studies program, said the event is informal, and students can have a candid conversation about the diplomat’s career.
“Students love this program,” she said. “It is essential for students who are interested in foreign service to meet someone face-to-face who’s had a career in this field.”
Andrew described the path he took to have a career in foreign service during his talk. He started in the military and expected to pursue a military career before deciding to start a career in foreign service.
During his time in the military, Andrew said he was “one of the last people to patrol the East-West border” of Germany before the Berlin Wall fell in 1989. He also served in the Gulf wars.
“The path I took to work in foreign service is not the only path to take, but it’s not an uncommon way to a career in the Department of State,” Andrews said.
Ibrahimpasic said the best part of this series is that students make an important connection with someone in the Department of State.
“The conversation with the diplomat doesn’t end at the event,” she said. “The diplomat takes your information and does a follow-up email.”
Andrew provided information about the kinds of internships available through the State Department. James Garza, a senior global studies major, said he spent the summer at the U.S. embassy in Moscow for an internship through the State Department. He said he got real experience in the embassy doing what an officer would do.“I like Moscow because it was a small embassy,” Garza said. “If you’re lucky, you get to do what actual officers do and not just shredding and stapling paper.”
Anyone who didn’t attend the meeting and is interested in applying for internships for the fall, spring or summer can visit the State Department’s website for more information. However, you must be a U.S. citizen to apply to these internships.
Andrew’s term as diplomat in residence will be over in the summer, so a new diplomat in residence will be assigned to the Midwest in the fall.
Ibrahimpasic said Nebraska students should take advantage of this opportunity, because it’s not every day students can get the undivided attention of a U.S. diplomat.
“We’re honored that the U.S. State Department even has this program,” she said.
