USAID ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

LET US CELEBRATE 100 YEARS OF THE FOREIGN SERVICE!

We join all the other Foreign Service agencies to celebrate our U.S. Foreign Service reaching 100 years. The gala on Tuesday, May 21^st will be livestreamed on State’s website and YouTube channels. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, CIA Director Bill Burns, and USAID’s Counsellor Clinton White will be speaking. Here are the links for the livestream from the gala where viewers will be able to watch the remarks of all the speakers beginning around 7pmEST:  Department homepage and YouTube Channel.

In honor of the Anniversary, AFSA has provided an excellent set of talking points should you have the opportunity to spread the word in your community. Just click here.

Note from the UAA Board

UAA’s outreach efforts are accelerating!  Over the past three years, Jim Bever, the champion of UAA’s outreach, has developed our partnership with AFSA and its Road Scholars (AFSA/RS) program to promote a broader understanding of the Foreign Service, its members and its objectives.  Working with former senior officials from State, USAID, Agriculture, and Commerce, AFSA/RS presents week-long learning programs for Americans from across the U.S. Jim has made dozens of presentations at these sessions to over 1,000 Americans from over 40 states. Roberta Mahoney and Cheryl Anderson are also joining this effort. Miles Toder and Christine Sheckler make presentations to different groups in their home states of Florida and California.

Helping Americans learn about development issues and programs is one of UAA’s key priorities, and we are proud of the success of UAA’s AFSA/RS partnership. We hope more UAA members will join in helping to grow our outreach capacity! See the article below for additional information on the AFSA/RS program and on how you can join UAA’s outreach activities.      

One final note: Consider joining and playing a role on one of UAA’s Committees. While members work hard, they also have fun and help alumni stay connected to others with similar interests and the larger USAID alumni community.  You can stay updated on the latest regarding Committees and Co-Chairs by checking the UAA website here. 

Notice of Board Elections

Dear Members:

We hope you have had a wonderful summer. As we start preparing for the October 11 Annual General Meeting, We wanted to bring to your attention to the elections for UAA Board positions. There are three vacant positions on the UAA Board to be filled by vote of the membership NLT October 4 prior to the 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM) on October 11. No voting will take place at the AGM. See the list of the two candidates seeking a first term and the two seeking a second term this year.

Click here for bios and ballot to vote

The UAA Board Nominations Committee announced the 2024 Board elections in the June UAA Newsletter, seeking to broaden the selection of candidates to fill the three vacancies by soliciting current members to consider nominating, or self-nominating, members. The only criterion for Board membership in the UAA Bylaws is that Board member must be a member in good standing (meaning a 2023 contributing member) of UAA. In addition, the Nominating Committee took into consideration whether the candidate was an active participant in UAA committees or other programs and activities of the UAA such that the candidate contributed to and was supportive of, the work of the UAA and was willing to invest time and energy into the activities of the UAA.

The Nominations Committee (Denise Rollins, Oren Wyche-Shaw, and Ken Yamashita) took into consideration a wide range of candidates. We believe we have selected an exceptional slate of candidates to fill the two vacant first-term positions on the Board as well as two incumbent candidates to serve a second term. Please vote electronically for the UAA Board candidates by October 4.

Thank you for your participation.

Sincerely,

UAA Board Nominations Committee (Denise Rollins, Oren Wyche-Shaw, Ken Yamashita).

Please Join UAA as Mentors for Cohort 14!

It is that time of year again–we need as many mentors as possible for the UAA-USAID Mentoring Program. Your experience as a USAID retiree/mentor is invaluable, and we are eager to continue the successful partnership between UAA volunteer mentors and USAID Foreign Service Officer mentees. Mentees want to learn from your experience and highly value your insights. You will find deep satisfaction in your conversations with FSO mentees, knowing that your expertise shapes the next generation of USAID professionals. For Cohort 14, UAA and USAID will focus on FSO mentees in overseas positions in Senior Leadership Group assignments and those stationed in Africa, Asia, and Global Health Bureaus. 

HOW TO SIGN UP AS A MENTOR:

• If you have been a UAA mentor previously, we have your profile. To confirm your participation in Cohort 14, you simply need to email Denise and Sharon by Tuesday, September 17th at their respective addresses (denise.rollins52@gmail.com and sharonpauling1@gmail.com). Please include your name, the cohort you mentored, and any updates to your profile in the email.
• If you have yet to join the ranks of UAA mentors, please complete the mentor profile by clicking THIS LINK by Tuesday, September 17th, to summarize your experience and help us match you to a promising FSO. Our matching process is thorough and considers both the mentor’s and mentee’s professional backgrounds, interests, and goals to ensure a productive and beneficial relationship for both parties. You will have the opportunity to concur on the match.

The most critical component of the program is you. Please join us! We will provide mentor training, support, and camaraderie. Your role as a mentor is not just important; it is crucial to the program’s success and development of new leaders, as reaffirmed by the Cohort 13 program evaluation. As a mentor, you will spend an average of one to two hours each month talking with a USAID FSO about the challenges and issues they encounter in their careers. The time you devote can be among the most rewarding hours you will experience each month as you witness your guidance’s significant and positive impact on the mentees, knowing that you are playing a crucial role in their professional development. We have attached the Mentoring Program flyer for your review. 

We expect to complete the matching process by December and will host a one-day mentor training in January that includes Agency leaders. The formal mentoring process for Cohort 14 is six months, from January to June 2025. For more information, please contact Denise Rollins and Sharon Pauling.  

USAID Alumni Association Annual Picnic: A Windy Success!  

Well, it didn’t rain on our picnic this time!  That said, Mother Nature was out in gale force, and it was a “bit chilly.” Kudos to the well-prepared who were equipped with sweatshirts and blankets!! All told we had 50+ members present—some new, some old on September 7, 2024, in Fort Hunt Park, Alexandria, VA. We enjoyed meeting new members and seeing the next generation of kids.

Despite the brisk winds and chilly temperatures, there was wonderful camaraderie and always warm and engaging conversations and delicious food!!

Thank you to everyone who braved the elements and made this event memorable!  A special thanks to our extraordinary Social Committee (Karen Freeman, Margot Ellis, Denise Rollins, Sharon Pauling, Melissa Williams, Georgia Sambunaris, Susan Fine, Christine Sheckler, and Miles Toder), Ven Suresh and Carol Dabbs who kept us on financial and digital track and our UAA Leadership Team who supported the event. 

We discussed upcoming events, such as the Annual General Meeting on October 11, and we announced the River Dinner Cruise to complement the meeting on the night of the 10^th.  Sign-ups are out for both, and we welcome all to come and assemble again!  Same place next year, we’ll let you know what we have cookin’ for the next year but if you have ideas, please let the Social Committee know!  See the rogue’s gallery here.

UAA Hosts Visiting Mission Directors and Country Representatives

On Thursday, July 31, 2024, the USAID Alumni Association (UAA) hosted a significant event, bringing together over 60 Mission Directors, Country Representatives, and senior staff from posts around the globe at a reception at the Yours Truly Hotel at Dupont Circle, NW in Washington.

 The evening was an excellent opportunity for more than 40 UAA members to reconnect

 with many MDs and former colleagues, set against the backdrop of a perfect venue, with a DJ playing music and UAA-funded appetizers. The new Agency leaders, now heading our most important international development programs worldwide, are a testament to the talent and commitment within our community.   The team spirit was overwhelming among Foreign Service Officers and USAID alums, with notable camaraderie and bonding. The event allowed MDs and UAA members to socialize during the official MDs Conference.

Conversations were filled with reminiscences and updates. ‘Where are you now? How IS retirement? Do you remember…? ‘ and’ So proud of what you’re doing in…’ were common themes. Team spirit, camaraderie, curiosity, and admiration were not just present but overwhelming. The event occurred on the margins of the Mission Directors’ Conference in Washington.  Click here to see more photos from this event.  

Supporting Our Mission Israel LE Staff Colleagues Via the FSN Emergency Relief Fund

Our colleagues, especially the Locally Employed Staff at Mission Israel and those residing in Gaza, are directly affected by the war between Israel and Hamas.  This includes those working for USAID. 

AFSA would like to draw attention to the opportunity for all of us to meaningfully support our colleagues by giving to the FSN Emergency Relief Fund. We urge you to continue reading here to learn more about this Fund and to explore how you can lend your support.  

Emergency Relief Funds for Ukraine:  for FSNs and for Ukrainian Citizens

For information about contributing to relief of the Ukraine emergency, including the FSN Emergency Relief Fund and ways to support the people of Ukraine compiled by DACOR Bacon House Foundation’s Development Office, click here.

UAA Partnership with American University Library Archives

Since 2019 the American University Library Archives have welcomed donations of AID alumni personal memorabilia of their USAID service. The UAA has now established a partnership with the Archives to support the preparation, processing, and making available to researchers of these papers, including those donated by the UAA and by individual alumni and others.  We envision the program will continue for five or more years; after two years the Archivist and UAA will assess the program’s effectiveness before committing for the additional years.  The UAA has pledged an initial sum of $10,000 over two years ($5,000 each year) to finance student interns to help prepare and organize these papers and make them more easily available. The funding for this program is drawn entirely from contributions made to the AID history project, which included the clear hope that the book would stimulate further study and understanding of AID’s more than 60 years of development history. AID alumni are strongly urged to consider donating their memorabilia to this collection. (See https://usaidalumni.org/uaa-and-american-university-archives-opportunity-for-usaid-alumni/) 

UAA Development Issues Committee Dialogue:

Prof. Julia Irwin on her new book, Catastrophic Diplomacy:  US Foreign Disaster Assistance in the American Century

On Thursday morning, September 26, 2024, Professor Julia Irwin spoke at a virtual program featured as a lead-in to the October 11 UAA AGM. This AGM’s theme is the nexus between humanitarian and development assistance, a topic discussed at some length by Prof. Irwin in her recently published book Catastrophic Diplomacy:  US Foreign Disaster Assistance in the American Century. She helped audience members understand how this relationship evolved over the past century, bringing us to where USAID finds itself today. Click on this link to follow the program.

UAA/DACOR Development Dialogue: 

Sir Masood Ahmed discussed “Are we at a Tipping Point for Development Cooperation?”

Sir Masood Ahmed and Alex Shakow at DACOR

On Friday, September 6, 2024, Sir Masood Ahmed, engaged in conversation with a good crowd of UAA and DACOR members to discuss “Are we at a Tipping Point for Development Cooperation?” Masood has just retired as President of the Center for Global Development, capping off an illustrious and productive 45-year career as a leader in development thinking. This experience was evident through his insightful comments and thought-provoking challenges to all during this hour-long presentation. Follow the entire program by clicking on the link here.

“The Enduring Struggle:  The History of the U.S. Agency for International Development and America’s Uneasy Transformation of the World “

by John Norris

John Norris‘ book, The Enduring Struggle – The History of the Agency for International Development and America’s Uneasy Transformation of the World, was published in July 2021. In a short review, Foreign Affairs wrote:  “This comprehensive history of the U.S. Agency for International Development…deserves to be read by all students of U.S. foreign policy.”  A very positive review of The Enduring Struggle by Mary Jane Maxwell has recently been published in the Journal of World History.  (Read it here.)  Copies may be purchased from the publisher at a 30 percent discount by using the form at this link.  Alumni with suggestions for events that will popularize the book or to generate reviews should send their suggestions to Alex Shakow at ashakow@comcast.net. 

Additions to the Bibliography of USAID Authors