Brief Profiles of 2024-2025 Global Ambassadors
Nicole Bravo Guibao is a junior, majoring in Public Health with a double minor in Business in Spanish and Health Informatics. She is passionate about utilizing health-related technologies in the public health sector, particularly internationally. Her academic interests lie in global health and international work. After graduation, she aspires to work at a global health organization such as WHO or CDC, focusing on implementing innovative solutions to improve public health outcomes worldwide.
Cadence Gillaspie is a senior double majoring in Public Health with a concentration in Global Health and Political Science with a concentration in Public Policy and minoring in Communication. She is interested in pursuing a Master’s in Public Health in global health policy after graduating from the College of Charleston and hopes to pursue a career with the World Health Organization.
Sydney Jackson is a rising senior majoring in Political Science and International Studies with a focus on US-China, Southeast Asia, and intelligence/security affairs. She has a strong command of the Mandarin Chinese language and a firm cultural understanding. Most recently, Jackson participated in the Department of States Paid Internship Program in Washington DC. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a degree in International Law and continue working towards her long-term goal of becoming an ambassador.
Kirti Laxmi Reddy is a sophomore double majoring in International Studies and Political Science in the Honors College. Her interest in becoming a Global Ambassador stems from her travels to Bangalore, India, where she leveraged her Kannada speaking skills. She is interested in studying the dynamics of community interactions, specifically exploring diplomatic strategies to mitigate cultural conflicts. After graduation, she will continue her education by pursuing a master’s or law degree.
Alexis Richter is a rising junior majoring in International Studies and Political Science with a minor in Spanish. She is interested in international human rights and hopes to pursue a career in foreign service or working for an NGO.
Maeve Ridings is a senior double majoring in International Studies and Economics in the Honors College. She is interested in refugee displacement and conflict management, specifically regarding economic disparities in countries with significant diasporic populations. She hopes to work with a resettlement agency or the State Department to address these crises.
Caroline Smith is a rising sophomore in the Honors College triple majoring in Political Science, German Studies, and International Studies. She is interested in international relations pertaining to Europe and has been studying German for five years. With interests in the efficacy of the United Nations as well as environmentally-related issues, Caroline hopes to further study international relations and pursue a career in foreign service following graduation.
Piper Walrad is a junior in the Honors College double majoring in International Studies and Environmental Studies with a minor in Spanish. Piper is a member of the Bonner Leader Program and has led a community-based service trip abroad focused on the effects of tourism on environmental and cultural sustainability. She is interested in international work surrounding sustainable development and environmental conservation.
High impact interactions with guest speakers
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David Firestein, President and CEO of the Bush China Foundation. Discussion about US-China relations, the foreign service profession, and FSO skills, March 25, 2025.
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Dr. Ryan Berg, Director for the Americas Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies. Discussion on US foreign policy in Latin America, March 4, 2025.
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Ambassador Allan Rock, a former Canadian Ambassador to the UN and a former Minister of the Interior of Canada. Discussion about US-Canada relations, global partnerships, mini-multilateralism, public health, and current challenges in diplomacy, February 18, 2025.
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Deniz Houston, Digital Policy Advisor at the EU Delegation to the US in Washington, DC. Discussion about global careers, EU-US cooperation on technology and AI, February 4, 2025.
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Jesse Golland, career FSO, Economic Officer at the State Department, currently serving a tour in the US Embassy in Mexico City. Discussion about foreign service, US-Mexico relationships, and US foreign policy in Latin America, November 19, 2024.
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Dr. Amy Jo Dowd, a development scholar and expert on international children’s education. Discussion about international careers in development, October 14, 2024.
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MaryAnn Robinson, Senior Program Officer in the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs, UN Department of State. Discussion with Global Ambassadors about State Department careers, September 24, 2024.
2025 Field Trip to Washington DC
On March 3-7, 2025 Global Ambassadors traveled to Washington, D.C. visit embassies, international organizations, and think-tanks.
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Estonian Embassy. We met with diplomatic staff at the Estonian Embassy for a conversation on Estonia’s security priorities, cybersecurity initiatives, the importance of international law for small states, and Estonia’s role in NATO and the EU.
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Panamanian Embassy. The Global Ambassadors met with embassy representatives to discuss Panama’s environmental leadership, regional diplomacy, US-Panama relations, the challenges related to migration, and Panama’s foreign policy.
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Center for Strategic and International Studies, the Americas Program. We met with Dr. Ryan Berg, Director of the Americas Program at CSIS, for a focused discussion on democratic backsliding, the growing influence of China, Russia, and Iran in Latin America.
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Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. We met with staff at the Quincy Institute to learn about their approach to foreign policy analysis, emphasizing military restraint, diplomacy-first strategies, and U.S. global engagement.
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Save the Children. We met with policy and advocacy staff at Save the Children to discuss global child welfare, humanitarian response efforts, and the organization’s work influencing U.S. development and aid policy.
