Adviser: Dr. Kelly McFarland, ISD Director of Programs and Research

Topic: The Rise of Urban Diplomacy and Opportunities to Harness Sub-State Political Actors for Global Problems

Vanessa Jarnes is a candidate in the Master of Science in Foreign Service and focuses on the intersection of international security, conflict resolution, and development. Her research at ISD examines the growing role of city-level diplomacy in shaping world affairs. At Georgetown, Vanessa has presented research with the Georgetown Global Cities Initiative, served as a student representative, and is a teaching assistant for former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Vanessa graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in Government and Politics from University of Maryland, College Park, with a minor in International Development and Conflict Management. She is currently a U.S. civil servant and has internship and work experience spanning Massachusetts state government, two think tanks, a development contracting firm, the U.S. Senate, the World Bank, and federal agencies including the U.S. Department of State.