Diversity Initiative in Foreign Policy

About the Project

Collage of Keynote Speakers

In 2012 the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) launched the Diversity Initiative in Foreign Policy. The initiative complements CFR's other, longstanding efforts to encourage members of underrepresented groups to participate in the foreign policy debate and consider careers in foreign policy. 

As part of the initiative, CFR hosts conferences and workshops to introduce students, young professionals, and established leaders to cutting edge discussions in international relations and to the broad range of careers they could pursue in the foreign policy field. Participants also receive briefings from fellows, CFR members, government officials, journalists, and other foreign policy experts.

CFR has hosted the Conference on Diversity in International Affairs in collaboration with the Global Access Pipeline (GAP) and the International Career Advancement Program (ICAP) since 2013. An annual event, the conference connects students and professionals from diverse backgrounds with career opportunities in international affairs. Speakers have included Senator Tammy Duckworth, U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice, former minority leader of the Georgia House of Representatives Stacey Abrams, former Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson, actor and former Associate Director for White House Office of Public Engagement Kalpen Modi, president of the Ford Foundation Darren Walker, Morgan Stanley Vice Chairman and Managing Director Carla Harris, president and CEO of the International House Calvin Smith, and NASA Administrator Charles Bolden.

Conference highlights and videos can be found at the following links: 

2023 Conference on Diversity in International Affairs
2022 Conference on Diversity in International Affairs
2021 Conference on Diversity in International Affairs
2020 Virtual Webinar on Diversity in International Affairs
2019 Conference on Diversity in International Affairs
2018 Conference on Diversity in International Affairs
2017 Conference on Diversity in International Affairs
2016 Conference on Diversity in International Affairs
2015 Conference on Diversity in International Affairs 
2014 Conference on Diversity in International Affairs
2013 Conference on Diversity in International Affairs

More information on CFR's longstanding commitment to making the foreign policy community in the United States more representative of American society as a whole can be found here

No publications were found for this project.