CFR Education Ambassador Program

The Council on Foreign Relations Education Ambassadors are educators committed to equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and perspective to navigate today’s connected world.

Welcome 2024–2025 CFR Education Ambassadors!

 

The CFR Education Ambassador program is a nine-month engagement that connects educators across the world with free educational resources, professional development activities, and a vibrant network of like-minded professionals who are committed to equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and perspective to navigate today’s connected world. 

We are pleased to welcome the new 2024–2025 Ambassadors to the following two programs:

  • High School Ambassador Program: This program is dedicated to high school teachers, department heads, and curriculum leaders who actively champion global civics and global affairs education.
  • Higher Education Ambassador Program: The higher education program is dedicated to professors, instructors, librarians, and administrators championing global affairs in colleges and universities across the country.

Please see the full list of 2024–2025 Ambassadors at the bottom of this webpage. 

Applications for the CFR Education Ambassador Program are currently closed. Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions.

 

 

Community Guidelines

CFR Education believes community guidelines are essential to fostering a positive, respectful environment, where every voice is valued. Participants in the CFR Education Ambassador Program are expected to:

  • Be inclusive, respectful, and non-judgmental.
  • Avoid qualitative comments about others’ perspectives. 
  • Acknowledge differences of opinions in a civil manner.
  • Avoid dominating the conversation.
  • Support the non-partisan nature of the Council on Foreign Relations and the CFR Education Ambassador program.

Ambassadors who do not follow these guidelines and adhere to the Council’s policy on diversity, equity, and inclusion during gatherings, whether virtual or in-person, will be subject to dismissal from the program. 

 

 

Hear what CFR Education Ambassadors say about the program

 

High School

“I have been thrilled to participate in the CFR Education Ambassador program and meet many different educators and CFR staff. Each meeting left me with new ideas and a sense of community as we gathered to share how best to educate our students. Having the chance to offer feedback to CFR is also wonderful.” - Alison Walters, Frontier Regional School, MA

 

Higher Education

“I’m so thrilled to have this opportunity to connect with other international affairs specialists so I can learn new ideas, tools, and approaches to help increase global civic literacy in our campus and community. We may be in the middle of the country, but our lives are affected daily by things happening elsewhere and I’m honored to have these experiences to help our students gain the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in our integrated world.” - Jean Abshire, Indiana University Southeast, IN


 

 

2024–2025 CFR Education Ambassadors

 

Higher Education Ambassadors

 

Jean Abshire, Indiana University Southeast (New Albany, IN)

Craig Albert, Augusta University (Augusta, GA)

Eileen Angelini, Le Moyne College (Syracuse, NY)

Robert Asaadi, Portland Community College (Portland, OR)

Amy Austin Holmes, Texas A&M University - Bush School (Washington, DC)

Gloria Ayee, Harvard University (Cambridge, MA)

Leslie Bassett, University of San Diego (San Diego, CA)

Fodei Batty, Quinnipiac University (Hamden, CT)

Yan Bennett, George Washington University, American University, Rutgers University (Washington DC; New Brunswick, NJ)

Mia Bloom, Georgia State University (Atlanta, GA)

Daniel Bottomley, University of Delaware (Newark, DE)

Deborah Burand, New York University School of Law (New York, NY)

Ron Christie, Cornell University Program in Washington DC (Washington, DC)

Mary Catherine Colley, Auburn University (Auburn, AL)

Sean Corrigan, Southern Oregon University (Ashland, OR)

Rhonda Coombs, Montana State University (Bozeman, MT)

Alden Craddock, Maryville University (St. Louis, MO)

Jesse Cragwall, Pellissippi State Community College (Knoxville, TN)

Jessica De Alba-Ulloa, University of Maine - School of Policy and International Affairs (Orono, ME)

Chad DeWaard, Culver-Stockton College (Canton, MO)

Hope Dewell Gentry, Montana State University Billings (Billings, MT)

Pedro dos Santos, College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University (St. Joseph, MN)

Daniel DuBois, Saint Leo University (Saint Leo, FL)

Heba El-Shazli, George Mason University (Fairfax, VA)

Steven Elliott-Gower, Georgia College & State University (Milledgeville, GA)

Jenny Fang, Oral Roberts University (Tulsa, OK)

Francesco Fasano, University of Oregon (Eugene, OR)

Maryann Gallagher, University of Georgia (Athens, GA)

Anne-Marie Gardner, The College of New Jersey (Ewing, NJ)

Uttam Gaulee, Morgan State University (Baltimore, MD)

Keith Gehring, University of Denver, Josef Korbel School of International Studies (Denver, CO)

Felicia Grey, University of Detroit Mercy (Detroit, MI)

Stephanie Hallock, Harford Community College (Havre De Grace, MD)

Holley Hansen, Oklahoma State University (Stillwater, OK)

Kurt Harris, Southern Utah University (Cedar City, UT)

Yujia He, University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY)

Peter Henne, University of Vermont (Burlington, VT)

Steven Herman, Shenandoah University (Winchester, VA)

Tin-bor Victoria Hui, University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame, IN)

Jill Humphries, University of Toledo (Toledo, OH)

Briana Hyman, North Carolina A&T State University (Greensboro, NC)

Susan Jagendorf-Sobierajski, SUNY Cobleskill (Cobleskill, NY)

Steven Jones, Georgia Gwinnett College (Lawrenceville, GA)

Eunice Kang, Vanguard University (Costa Mesa, CA)

Daniel Katz, Borough of Manhattan Community College, CUNY (New York, NY)

Heather Kohls, Marquette University (Milwaukee, WI)

Harvey Kushner, Long Island University (Brookville, NY)

Joseph Kusluch, University of Northern Colorado (Greeley, CO)

Katie Laatikainen, Adelphi University (Garden City, NY)

Rob Lalka, Tulane University (New Orleans, LA)

Su-Mi Lee, University of Hawai'i at Hilo (Hilo, HI)

John LeJeune, Georgia Southwestern State University (Americus, GA)

Steve Liebel, Colorado State University Pueblo (Pueblo, CO)

Donna Lybecker, Idaho State University (Pocatello, ID)

Emily Matson, Georgetown University (Washington, DC)

Ron McMullen, University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA)

Steven Miller, Modesto Junior College (Modesto, CA)

Gregory Moore, Southern New Hampshire University (Manchester, NH)

Julie Mughal, Fairfield University (Fairfield, CT)

Sarah Munro, Guilford College (Greensboro, NC)

Rudy Novak, US Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs, CO)

Roni Kay O'Dell, Seton Hill University (Greensburg, PA)

Holly Oberle, Colorado Mesa University (Grand Junction, CO)

Mojubaolu Okome, Brooklyn College, CUNY (Brooklyn, NY)

Yetunde Omede, State University of New York Farmingdale State College (Farmingdale, NY)

Ginta Palubinskas, West Virginia State University (Institute, WV)

Robert Pauly, The University of Southern Mississippi (Long Beach, MS)

Ali Raddaoui, University of Wyoming (Laramie, WY)

Ray Rafidi, Southern Methodist University (Dallas, TX)

Adnan Rasool, University of Tennessee at Martin (Martin, TN)

Matthew Revels, United States Military Academy (West Point, NY)

Sarah Riva, Barry University (Miami, FL)

Lia Roberts, Mount Saint Mary's University, Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA)

Joseph Roberts, Roger Williams University (Bristol, RI)

Marcelo Rodríguez, University of Arizona - College of Law (Tucson, AZ)

Ojel L. Rodriguez Burgos, University of the Sacred Heart (San Juan, PR)

Mark Rush, Washington and Lee University (Lexington, VA)

Mita Saksena, University of Bridgeport, Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (Norwalk, CT)

Austin Schutz, Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles, CA)

John Scianimanico, New York University, (New York, NY)

John Shaw, Southern Illinois University, Paul Simon Public Policy Institute (Carbondale, IL)

Mark Simpson, Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ)

Erin Sorrell, Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health (Baltimore, MD)

Tony Spanakos, Montclair State University (Montclair, NJ)

Chelsea Starr, Eastern New Mexico University (Portales, NM)

Sarah Tenney Sharman, The Citadel (Charleston, SC)

Andy Tuholski, Indiana University Kokomo (Kokomo, IN)

Rachel Vanderhill, Wofford College (Spartanburg, SC)

Robert Wilkes, Atlanta Metropolitan State College (Atlanta, GA)

Cameron Wimpy, Arkansas State University (Jonesboro, AR)

Silverio Zebral Filho, Organization of American States - School of Governance (Washington, DC)

Enyu Zhang, Seattle University (Seattle, WA)


 

High School Ambassadors

 

Distinguished Ambassadors

 

Shamita Johnson, Henry County Schools, (McDonough, GA)

Lois MacMillan, Grants Pass High School (Grants Pass, OR)

Nathan McAlister, Kansas State Department of Education (Topeka, KS)

Ryan Werenka, Troy High School (Troy, MI)

Mary Ellen Wessels, Gate City Charter School for the Arts (Merrimack, NH)

 

2024–2025 Ambassadors 

 

Lisa Allen, Deerfield High School (Deerfield, IL)

Lok Yee Au, Australian International Academy (Sydney, Australia)

Carly Avezzano, Global Kids (New York, NY)

Catherine Ballman, Pathways School and Evaluation Center (Phoenix, AZ)

Robert Barnidge, Chaminade College Preparatory School (St. Louis, MO)

Caroline Bethea-Brown, Haywood Early College (Clyde, NC)

Logan Blouin, Global Kids (New York, NY)

Brenda Boehler, Cholla High School (Tucson, AZ)

Eunice Bonaparte, Washington Preparatory School, (Bothell, WA)

Spencer Burrows, Pacific Ridge School (Carlsbad, CA)

Kevin Caffrey, Newton College (Lima, Peru)

Cynthia Cullen, Half Hollow Hills High School East (Dix Hills, NY)

Vasiliki Dardeshi, Central Bucks East High School (Doylestown, PA)

Jacco Dieleman, Holton-Arms School (Bethesda, MD)

Rebecca Eisenberg, Lincoln High School, Portland, OR

Karim El Dib, Hayah International Academy (Cairo, Egypt)

Kara Fagan, The Academy at Charlemont (Charlemont, MA)

Katharina Felts, Rock Ridge High School (Ashburn, VA)

John Fink, Paulding County High School: Academy of Science, Research, and Medicine (Dallas, GA)

Mario Fitzpatrick, McQueen High School (Reno, NV)

Andrew Fortune, Uwharrie Charter Academy (Asheboro, NC)

Kyle Freiler, The School for Ethics and Global Leadership (Washington, DC)

Thomas Fulbright, Hope Street Charter Academy (Topeka, KS)

David Goldberg, Sanford H. Calhoun High School (Merrick, NY)

Shane Gower, Maranacook Community High School (Readfield, ME)

Naima Green-Riley, Princeton University (Princeton, NJ)

Linda Grosvenor, Battle Ground Academy (Franklin, TN)

Amy Hansel, Compass High School (Belmont, CA)

Katharine Hanson, Menlo School (Atherton, CA)

Nancy Haven, Newark School of Global Studies (Newark, NJ)

Jane Highley, Devon Preparatory School (Devon, PA) 

Christopher Hughes, Scarsdale High School (Scarsdale, NY)

Christopher Hurd, Boonton High School (Boonton, NJ)

Kyu-Ryung Hwang, New Hampshire Department of Education (Concord, NH)

Melissa Jacobs, Herricks UFSD (New Hyde Park, NY)

Sean Jacobsen, Michael J Petrides School (Staten Island, NY)

Jaclyn Jecha, New Berlin West Middle and High School (New Berlin, WI)

Cheryl Jindeel, Granger High School (West Valley City, UT)

Aaron Jura, Walter L. Cohen High School (New Orleans, LA)

Grace Krouse, Jakarta Intercultural School (Jakarta, Indonesia)

Maggie LeGrand, North Gaston High School (Gastonia, NC)

Kybran Machnizh, The AWTY International School (Spring, TX)

Robert Mayfield, Ripon High School (Ripon, CA)

Bernard McCauley, Great Valley High School (Malvern, PA)

Marvin McCrary, Legend College Preparatory (Cupertino, CA)

Tracy McFarland, Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas (Dallas, TX)

Carla McIvor, West Island College (Calgary, Canada)

Rebekkah Morrow, Westmoore High School (Oklahoma City, OK)

Ron Nash, Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History (South Orange, NJ)

Stephanie Nelson, Raisbeck Aviation High School (Tukwila, WA)

Erin Palladino, Marshfield High School (Marshfield, MA)

Craig Perrier, Fairfax County Public Schools (Fairfax, VA)

Samantha Phelps, George C. Marshall High School (Falls Church, VA)

Allison Ramirez, Albemarle High School (Charlottesville, VA)

Tricia Rattigan, Forest Hills High School (Forest Hills, NY)

Deanne Reynolds, North Broward Preparatory School (Coconut Creek, FL)

Jennifer Rodgers, Dominion High School, Loudoun County Public Schools (Sterling, VA)

Danielle Rodriguez, Global Kids (Washington, DC)

Mallory Rome, The Rivers School (Weston, MA)

Darby Sinclair, Taipei American School (Taipei, Taiwan)

Kendra Sisserson, The Pennington School (Pennington, NJ)

Amy Smith, EDUPRIZE (Gilbert, AZ) 

Justin Steele, GOAL Academy High School (Fort Collins, CO)

Luke Sundermeier, Marysville High School (Marysville, OH)

John Tenney, Naugatuck High School (Naugatuck, CT)

Megan Thompson, Osseo Senior High School (Osseo, MN)

Alana Trammell, Prairie Lea School (Prairie Lea, TX)

Kyle Tredinnick, Career Center- Zoo Academy (Omaha, NE)

Amy Walker, Summit Trail Middle School (Olathe, KS)

Alison Walters, Frontier Regional School (South Deerfield, MA)

Andrea Watson-Canning, Florida Virtual School (Tampa, FL)

Taylor Weigand, Binghamton High School (Binghamton, NY)

Gregory Withrow, Gilmer High School (Ellijay, GA)

Emma Wynkoop, Colonel Zadok Magruder High School (Rockville, MD)

Allie Younggren, Olathe East High School (Olathe, KS)

 

 

What are the perks for CFR Education Ambassadors?

✔ Join a prestigious educator program affiliated with the Council on Foreign Relations, the world’s leading global affairs think tank and publisher.

✔ Build a professional network by interacting with like-minded educators and sharing best practices in teaching global issues.

✔ Participate in professional development opportunities.

✔ Gain visibility: the chance to be featured by CFR Education on email, blog, or social media posts.

✔ Help shape and improve CFR Education’s award-winning educational resources

 ✔ Advance global literacy and global affairs education around the world. 

✔ Receive a certificate with professional development hours.

... and more!

 

 

Who is eligible to be an Ambassador?

  • high school teachers and administrators who incorporate global issues into history, social studies, English, science, or other disciplines
  • higher education instructors and administrators who incorporate global affairs into international relations, history, public policy, area studies, economics, law, environmental studies, public health, or other disciplines
  • instructors of all kinds who currently work at a private or public educational institution
  • those who are passionate about global affairs and committed to equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and perspective to navigate today’s connected world.

Applications for the CFR Education Ambassador Program are currently closed.