This Monday, a group of around 30 Colorado College students gathered in the political science seminar room for a talk with the current U.S. Ambassador to Mozambique, Douglas Griffiths. Ambassador Griffiths has served in Quebec City, Canada, Lisbon, Portugal, Geneva, Switzerland, Rabat, Morocco, Guayaquil, Ecuador, and most recently in Maputo, Mozambique.
In Washington, Ambassador Griffiths worked on the South Africa desk during the country’s transition to democracy. His talk was followed by a question and answer session as CC students examined American foreign policy, democracy promotion, and diplomacy.
“Ambassador Griffiths’ life lessons from a long career in the Foreign Service helped shed light on the ups, downs, challenges, and rewards of work in international diplomacy,” said senior Chris Bull.
“I was impressed by the life Ambassador Griffiths has led, from being in South Africa at the end of Apartheid to working in Mozambique while overseeing the expansion of PEPFAR, which in my mind ranks among the most consequential social spending programs ever enacted,” said Steven Ortega. “Any one of his foreign postings would have been enough for the entire talk, but altogether they paint an honestly inspiring picture of what can be accomplished in government.”
For some students, the experience changed their perceptions on the role of a diplomat.
“I think we all have this idea that being a diplomat or an ambassador is a glamorous job, where you travel around a lot, but it’s so much more than that,” said sophomore Dorsa Djalilzadeh. “You have to actually confront some undesirable realities about the institutions you are both representing and attempting to improve.”
Ambassador Griffiths reflected on his time as a diplomat.
“What I most value about this career is the constantly evolving intellectual stimulation,” he said. “Without having to spend time on Monster.com, I change jobs and often continents every three to four years. I work with intelligent, committed people who inspire me every day.”
“Having Ambassador Griffiths come and speak to us was really an experience,” said junior Isaac Becker. “His insightful, and occasionally hilarious stories recounting experiences working with a wide variety of people from a diversity of cultures were deeply interesting. His talk carried good life lessons every person ought to hear.”
Students felt this experience was representative of how unique CC is.
“Only at CC can a group of students get the rare opportunity to meet and converse with a sitting U.S. Ambassador in such an informal environment and in such an intimate setting, “ said Bull. “The opportunity to speak candidly with Ambassador Griffiths was a true and rare privilege that I am proud to have had.”
For those interested in a career in diplomacy, Ambassador Griffiths has several recommendations.
“A broad liberal arts education is excellent preparation for a career in diplomacy,” he said. “The Foreign Service exam is free and offered every year. Not to give a plug to a competing newspaper, but reading the Economist cover to cover will give you a leg up.”