Awards & Lectures
Honoring excellence in diplomacy, reporting and public service.
Each year, the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy (ISD) recognizes the diplomats, journalists and public servants who navigate complexity with skill and integrity — bringing distinguished voices to Georgetown to celebrate those who shape the course of international affairs.
Established through the generosity of ISD’s benefactors, these programs span nearly five decades and count among their honorees heads of state, UN secretaries-general, cabinet secretaries and some of the most celebrated international journalists of our time.
J. Raymond Trainor Award
Presented annually since 1978, the Trainor Award recognizes outstanding distinction in the conduct of diplomacy — honoring Americans and foreign nationals alike who have advanced the art and practice of international relations. Named for J. Raymond “Jit” Trainor, the beloved former registrar of the School of Foreign Service, the award carries with it a tradition of excellence that spans more than four decades.
Edward Weintal Prize for Diplomatic Reporting
The oldest of ISD’s annual programs, the Weintal Prize has recognized distinguished foreign policy and diplomatic journalism since 1975. Endowed by Edward Weintal — a Polish diplomat and diplomatic correspondent for Newsweek — the prize honors reporters and correspondents across print and broadcast media whose work brings the world of diplomacy into public view.
Oscar G. Iden Lectures
Begun in 1976 and endowed by School of Foreign Service alumnus Oscar G. Iden and his wife Cecilia, the Iden Lecture Series has brought distinguished voices in American foreign policy and international diplomacy to Georgetown’s campus for nearly fifty years. Past lecturers have included a U.S. president, cabinet secretaries, national security advisors and senior ambassadors.
Upcoming events
Explore upcoming lectures, conversations and events from ISD — open to students, practitioners and the broader foreign policy community.
May 13