As an aspiring diplomat from Sierra Leone, Lamrana Alieu Jalloh relishes the opportunity to learn from policymakers. So he immediately gravitated to Amb. (ret.) Joe Donnelly’s policy lab, Diplomacy in Today’s World.
For Jalloh, a master of global affairs student with a concentration in governance and policy, the class has provided an opportunity to hear from practitioners who can share valuable lessons from their careers.
“I think this class is an integral part of my career path,” Jalloh said. “My dream is to represent my country on the international stage. Interacting with people who have worked in policy helps motivate and prepare me for my future work.”
Jalloh is not alone. A mix of undergraduate and graduate students are taking this fall semester class to hear from Donnelly, a 1977 Notre Dame graduate who has served as a U.S. senator, U.S. representative and U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, along with additional guest speakers.
This semester, guest speakers include Donnelly’s former colleagues like U.S. Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware and Andrii Yurash, Ukrainian ambassador to the Vatican. Fellow Notre Dame alumni such as Adm. Christopher W. Grady ’84, vice chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, are also in the mix, along with representatives from the U.S. Department of State and other government agencies and nongovernmental organizations.
The goal, Donnelly says, is to engage a diverse mix of students, many of whom are considering policy careers, by providing front-row access to policymakers.
“The students are what makes this so much fun and makes it special,” Donnelly said. “They are incredibly engaged and want to help build a better world, so I feel very fortunate to be with them. For our international students, it's a chance to learn a little bit more about the United States government, and for all of the global affairs students and those considering careers in public service, I want this to be helpful preparation.”
Donnelly wants to impart some of the lessons he’s learned through his own public service career. For him, diplomacy is about understanding people, being true to one’s word and advocating effectively for one’s values. It’s also, importantly, about navigating the complexities of geopolitics, dealing with governments and nongovernmental organizations that represent diverse and sometimes competing interests.
“How do we work to make a safer world?” Donnelly said. “How do we work in a world where we deal with China and Russia and North Korea and Iran on a regular basis? These are the kinds of questions I want our students to consider.”
And students are eager to engage. During a recent class that dealt with the role of the U.S. military in international diplomacy, Jalloh, the master of global affairs student from Sierra Leone, asked Donnelly how the United States’ war in Iraq has affected the Middle East. Donnelly explained how the conflict created regional instability, empowered Iran and helped lead to the creation of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, a terrorist group. The war, he said, showed how decisions that were not well thought out ultimately led to negative consequences.
For Alejandra Ricardo, a junior from the Dominican Republic majoring in political science and theology, the class presents an opportunity to learn from a mix of international experts.
“One thing I really like about the class is hearing from people who work in diplomacy, whether that’s people like Senator Coons from the United States, or the Ukrainian ambassador to the Holy See,” she said. “It adds valuable perspective.”
For students like Matthew Scherber, a sophomore majoring in global affairs and theology, the class provides valuable perspectives from someone who has worked to make a difference globally.
“Ambassador Donnelly has a unique perspective on the role of the church in relation to international politics and how the contemporary world order functions,” he said. “Given his experience in the U.S. Congress and representing the United States abroad, he can showcase how we can work together for a better future.”
Originally published by at keough.nd.edu on October 25, 2024.