Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at MSFS

The MSFS Futures Scholarship

The M.S. in Foreign Service program is excited to launch the MSFS Futures Scholarship, a full-tuition graduate scholarship and stipend that will be awarded to an MSFS student whose background or experience will uniquely enable them to contribute to the diversity of the MSFS community. As the university responds to a global pandemic, a shifting world order, and inequities and injustices across our country and world, MSFS recognizes that tomorrow’s leaders must be drawn from diverse communities, backgrounds, and perspectives. Listening to diverse voices improves MSFS students’ ability to understand and lead, and the program is committed to recruiting the most talented students that reflect the fullness of the world we live in. Make a gift to the MSFS Futures Scholarship.

MSFS Syllabus Review

In June 2020, the Master of Science in Foreign Service (MSFS) program established a committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) to address systemic racism in all aspects of the MSFS program. One part of that effort is the curriculum. As a first step towards a more inclusive curriculum, the DEI committee has conducted a review of all MSFS Fall 2020 course syllabi for representation of women and people of color among the authors of the readings. This initial review will allow the MSFS program to establish benchmarks and goals for representation in syllabi for future semesters. View the report here.

Resources on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Georgetown Graduate Students

Student leaders in Diversity and Inclusion at Georgetown have compiled a Graduate Student Guide on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion intended for Georgetown University graduate students who are interested in improving diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts within our community. While the University takes steps to address student concerns, particularly in the move towards anti-racism, Diversity and Inclusion at Georgetown is presenting this guide to encourage transparency and demand accountability from our institution. Additionally, we wish to provide actions that students can take immediately to advance DEI from the bottom-up. View the guide here.

MSFS is grateful for our student leaders in DEI efforts. Ishanee Chanda (MSFS ’21) serves president of the student Diversity and Inclusion at Georgetown group as well as a student member of the MSFS DEI committee along with Amanda Suarez (MSFS ’21). Danielle Orihuela (MSFS ’22) serves as the student representative liaison between the reps and the DEI committee as well.

MSFS Student Recruitment

The MSFS Program is a participating or partner member of various programs that help diverse students pursue careers in public and international affairs. Some of these programs include:

The Association of Professional Schools in International Affairs (APSIA);
The Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program;
The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship;
The USAID Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship Program; and
The Public Policy and International Affairs Fellowship Program (PPIA).

In Fall 2020, MSFS sought to engage students from a variety of backgrounds by hosting campus-specific outreach events at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) and women’s colleges.

Outreach events included:

Spelman College
Morehouse College
Florida International University
University of South Florida
Wellesley College’s Madeleine Albright Institute for Global Affairs

Kirstin Yanisch on the MSFS admissions team also works with the SFS Diversity, Equity and Inclusion office to promote inclusive admissions outreach across the school. Stay tuned for further events to be held in Spring 2021!