Academic year ’20-’21 is in the books, and what a year it was! Despite being remote for the entirety of the year we were determined to ensure our students stayed connected to what was happening around the world. Our annual lecture series this past year focused on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) and featured our esteemed faculty members, students, alumni, and other experts external to HU, sharing their insight on specific SDG’s and how they engage with them from their professional spaces. We had enlightening, impactful conversations which are available on our YouTube channel which you can access here. More information about the series is featured in this newsletter below.

We launched a new series, “Critical Conversations” which will engage ambassadors from around the world in important conversations facilitated by our students. We launched this in April with Ambassador Etienne of France and we look forward to continuing the series in the fall.  We also continued to partner with the Center for African Studies under the new leadership of Dr. Krista Johnson.  Their symposium on “Reshaping US Policy in Africa and the Role of HBCUs” is a must watch. You can view the various panel discussions here.

We officially launched the HU/COL Avanza initiative, a university-wide initiative to build stronger ties between Howard University and Colombia. HU/COL Avanza will support student and faculty exchange and look for opportunities to conduct joint research, build programs, and support learning for students at HU and students in Colombia. Stay tuned for updates in the coming weeks about exciting new partnerships that are brewing.

Finally, the academic year ended on a high note with last week’s publication of President Frederick’s Bison Beat. The May edition features stories from cover-to-cover on all things international at HU. We are elated that the greater HU community can see all the ways in which HU brings the world to campus and takes our students and faculty to the world! Make sure to check it out! We look forward to an active summer getting ready to welcome students back to campus! We cannot wait to see you all again! In the meantime, make sure to follow us on our social media platforms to stay in the loop with all things global at HU! Have a GREAT SUMMER!!

Read more about the recipients here.

"Ambassador Palmer served as ambassador in residence at Howard University following a distinguished career as a diplomat and member of the senior foreign service. As ambassador in residence, Dr. Palmer served as a key leader in the development of strategies to increase the University’s engagement with the U.S Department of State, international embassies, and various foreign and domestic organizations. Dr. Palmer also served as program director for the Rangel, Payne and Pickering fellowship programs, which were created to help diversify the foreign service.

Hometown: Houston, TX

Graduation Date: Spring 2022

Major, Minor: Sports Medicine, Chemistry

Why PRH: "As an aspiring physician, global citizen and healthcare lobbyist I applied for the Patricia Roberts Harris Public Affairs Fellowship to understand how the healthcare sector functions while assessing what effective healthcare legislation looks like. I look forward to invaluable mentorship opportunities as well as gaining a foundational understanding into the functionalities of public affairs."

Hometown: Atlanta, GA

Graduation Date: Spring 2023

Major, Minor: Public Relations, Business Administration

Why PRH: "I applied to the Patricia Roberts Harris Public Affairs Fellowship because I wanted to join a cohort of colleagues with like-minded goals of serving the public to positively impact the world. I look forward to the program’s customary mentorship which provides first-hand insight on best communications practices and its application to real-world scenarios."

We began in September, joined by Howard faculty members Dr. Helen Bond (School of Education) and Dr. Clarence Lusane (Department of Political Science), along with their colleague Alainna Lynch (Sustainable Development Solutions Network), who provided an introduction and overview to the SDGs, and shared findings from their co-authored report: "Never More Urgent: A Preliminary Review of How the U.S. is Leaving Black, Hispanic and Indigenous Communities Behind."

The Bunche Center's annual series seeks to bring a global perspective to complement students' academic journey at Howard University. You can view recordings of each #BuncheTalks episode by visiting the Bunche Center's YouTube Page: bit.ly/bunchecenteryoutube

The life-changing experience of studying abroad has had a profound impact on countless Howard University students. The Bunche Center congratulates and celebrates 2021 graduating Seniors who studied abroad through the Bunche Center during their undergraduate matriculation, and returned home to volunteer as HU Bison Abroad Ambassadors. These students help to spread the word about study abroad, served as peer mentors for students preparing to go abroad, and host other study abroad related events. Members of the HU Bison Abroad Ambassadors share how their servant leadership as part of the #StudyAbroadSoBlack movement has impacted them and other Bison.

"My servant leadership at Howard as a part of the #SASB movement has made it possible for more STEM and pre-med students to be encouraged about their ability to study abroad. People who are interested in STEM or healthcare benefit a lot by studying abroad because they are able to compare and contrast the way education and initiatives are presented abroad as opposed to the US. Comparing health care, graduate degree program timelines and the overall well being of the country was monumental in my journey as I aimed to pursue an MD/PhD. These experiences only helped me during my interview process and provided me a valuable perspective I have happily encouraged many others to do. As a member of the SASB movement and the Karsh STEM Scholars program, I believe I created an intersection between the two that many students after me will be eager to follow and better as time progresses. Speaking with STEM or premed students in the program and beyond has brought me great joy as I am able to help these individuals navigate their schedules and timelines to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

"Being an IES abroad ambassador along with being a peer advisor for the RBC has allowed me to hone my leadership skills and contribute my talents to something great. My servant leadership at Howard as a part of #SASB movement has made my job interviews more interesting and fulfilling. The conversations pertinent to study abroad and adaptation to a new culture has allowed me to speak to grit, resilience and flexibility. Being that I am a marketing major and being a part of the #SASB movement really enhanced my relationship-building skills as I was able to influence persons within my school to pursue a global education. Lastly, from this movement, I was able to speak to being black and abroad. Country information and cultural practices have been more accessible from this movement which is interesting being that I hope to travel the world in the future."

Ascendant is currently recruiting qualified candidates for a full-time Research Analyst position linked to a five-year contract that we hold with the U.S. Trade & Development Agency. The Research Analyst will perform substantive research, analytical, evaluation, and administrative support functions for the U.S. Trade and Development Agency’ work in the sub-Saharan Africa region.

This position is based in Arlington, VA and is metro accessible (Rosslyn). Remote telework flexibility is offered in the current environment.

·        1-3 years professional experience in a similar capacity

·        Bachelor’s degree is required; a master’s degree is preferred

·        Ideal candidates will have education backgrounds and interests in International Relations, International Development, Public Policy, International Trade, Economics, Technology, and other related fields of study

·        Excellent writing and communication skills

·        Foreign language skills are a plus

·        Ability to conduct sophisticated research using numerous resources

·        Ability to compile and analyze data and provide recommendations based upon statistical analysis

·        Ability to analyze programs and processes to determine effectiveness

·        Ability to operate independently to complete tasks and succeed in a fast-paced environment

·        Proficiency with all Microsoft Office Tools including Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Excel

·        Proficiency in conducting internet research, as well as utilizing databases

·        Must be detail-oriented and be able to format professional-grade documents for public dissemination

·        Must have strong writing skills to draft and edit reports, briefing books, letters and other forms of correspondence

·        High degree of organization and time-management skills

·        Applicants should demonstrate enthusiasm, initiative, flexibility and the ability to multitask

·        Candidates must be able to obtain a Secret level security clearance with the U.S. Government. A public trust background check with U.S. Government must be completed prior to starting work.

If you are interested in applying, please send a copy of your resume to careers@ascendantps.com.