In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, The Huffington Post has released its inaugural list of the “top 40 Latinos to watch in foreign policy.” Ambassador Lino Gutierrez, a new member of our board of advisers, was recognized as a great role model among other senior officials and praised for his excellent work in the field. The article states:
“They have paved the way for the current generation of rising stars who must now take the mantle and open doors for others because today there are still too few Hispanics in the U.S. Government, and even less in international affairs and intelligence agencies.”
Within 40 Under 40: Latinos in Foreign Policy, Georgetown University and ISD were well represented by Elvia Valle, a graduate student and Thomas R. Pickering Fellow in the School of Foreign Service, and by Ramon Escobar, one of our 2015-2016 Dean & Virginia Rusk Fellows who is co-teaching Diplomatic and Military Statecraft this fall and will be teaching U.S. Foreign Policy in Conflict States in the spring.
Check out their impressive bios below:
Elvia Valle (Thomas R. Pickering Fellow): At only 25 years of age, Elvia is one of the youngest members on this list and for a good reason. Prior to becoming a graduate student at the Georgetown School of Foreign Service, the recently named Pickering Fellow was a Fulbright Scholar at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna. Before her time as a Fulbright Scholar, she received a B.A. from the St. Edward’s University where she was as a CAMP (College Assistance Migrant Program) student and a McNair Scholar. There she served as an intern for a human trafficking workshop and credits being a mentor to other CAMP students as one of her most enriching experiences. In addition, she was a high school exchange student in France for one year and Germany for another. She is excited because next summer she will be interning at the State Department. Elvia’s family proudly hails from Michoacan Mexico.
Ramon Escobar (State Department): Ramon is a Rusk Fellow where he teaches at Georgetown University with the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy. Previously he served as the Colombia Desk Officer and Special Assistant to the Special Envoy for the Colombian Peace Process. Escobar joined the Foreign Service nine years ago and has served in a diverse range of tours covering issues in the Middle East, Europe, and Latin America. In his last assignment, Ramon served on the Colombia Desk where he was primarily responsible for assisting Bernard Aronson, Special Envoy to the Colombian Peace Process, in his efforts to help end Latin America’s longest-running conflict. Before this, Ramon was responsible for U.S.-Colombia cooperation on economic, energy, labor, and environment issues. Prior to the Colombia desk, Ramon worked in the Executive Secretariat where he advanced the travel of Secretary Kerry and, before him, Secretary Clinton. When not on the road, he reviewed briefing materials for the Secretary, the Deputy Secretaries, and the Under Secretary for Political Affairs. Before public service, Ramon worked in marketing research for two years. Ramon holds a B.A. in Business Marketing from the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee and a dual M.A. in International Affairs from Columbia University in New York and Sciences Politiques in Paris.
For the full list, click here.