International Careers & Jobs Panel

Do you wonder what jobs and careers there are in international affairs?

Tennessee Technological University

Cookeville, Tennessee

April 9, 2019

6:00-7:30 pm

Tech Pride Room / Roaden University Center

Featuring

Moderator – Dr. Debbie Barnard, PhD
Dept of Foreign Languages, Tennessee Technological University

Ms. Vallera Gibson
U.S. Foreign Service, Diplomat in Residence

Ann-Louise Colgan
U.S. Institute of Peace, Director of Public Education

Katherine Lay Miller
Executive Director, Project C.U.R.E. Nashville

Jim Shepherd
President, Carlex Glass America (Retired), International Manufacturing
& Chairman, TNWAC Board of Directors

Rosaura Mejia
International Trade Coordinator, Averitt Express, Inc.

Patrick W. Ryan
LCDR, USN (Retired), Naval Intelligence

This event is free and open to the public.

Seating is Limited | Registration Requested

Link to Register

Do you wonder what jobs and careers there are in international affairs?  There’s more than you think.  Twice a year the World Affairs Council assembles diplomats, business people, NGO officials, returned Peace Corps volunteers and more to talk about their experiences and insights and to answer your questions at this very popular panel.  Join us on April 9th at Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville to explore the careers and jobs that are open to you to get out into the world.

There will be another International Careers and Jobs Panel on April 8th at Belmont University in Nashville.

Moderator – Dr. Debbie Barnard, PhD
Dept of Foreign Languages, Tennessee Technological University

Dr. Debbie Barnard teaches all levels of French language and literature. She specializes in francophone literature and culture, with a primary focus on North Africa. Professor Barnard holds a PhD from Vanderbilt University.

Vallera M Gibson
Diplomat in Residence, Department of State

Vallera Gibson is a career Foreign Service officer with 17 years of government service. Currently she is the Diplomat in Residence for N. Georgia, Tennessee, and N. Alabama. Her office is located at Spelman College.

Vallera is a Management career track officer and has served as; a course coordinator and instructor at the Foreign Service Institute in Washington, D.C., Vice Consul and Economic officer in Haiti, Public Diplomacy officer in Conakry, Guinea and Management officer in Brazzaville, Congo. She began her professional career as an Army officer and worked in the pharmaceutical industry before joining the State Department.

Ms. Gibson received her B.S. from Georgia College and State University and her M.P.A. from Troy State University. She speaks French and Haitian Creole. During her free time, she enjoys working with public service organizations and riding her Harley Davidson motorcycle.

Ann-Louise Colgan
U.S. Institute of Peace, Director of Public Education

Ann-Louise Colgan is the director of public education at the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP). The work of this department is grounded in USIP’s original congressional mandate and is dedicated to increasing the American public’s understanding of international conflicts and nonviolent approaches that can be used to resolve them. The department extends USIP’s longstanding educational work through outreach to new audiences in all 50 states, offering resources and initiatives that bring peacebuilding to life and offer opportunities for engagement with the work of the Institute.

Ann-Louise joined USIP in 2010 after more than a decade working at organizations focused on international human rights issues, peace and conflict, and U.S. foreign policy. Her background includes research and policy work, as well as extensive experience in communications and public education. From human rights organizations to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, where she managed the high-level Genocide Prevention Task Force and subsequently served as director of the Museum’s Academy for Genocide Prevention, Ann-Louise developed and implemented plans to engage policymakers and educate a broad public audience on issues of peace and conflict and other global priorities.

She holds a master’s degree in International Studies and a bachelor’s degree in European Studies, and she is certified as a Teacher of English as a Foreign (Second) Language.

Katherine Lay Miller
Executive Director, Project C.U.R.E. Nashville

Katherine joins Project C.U.R.E. having an extensive background working with a variety of nonprofits. While earning her M.A. at Lipscomb University’s College of Leadership and Public Service, her passion for international aid was born during a travel course studying social justice in the European Union. Discussions centered around humanitarian law at the International Red Cross Headquarters, policy at the World Trade Organization, refugee immigration at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, peacekeeping at Vredespaleis and leadership accountability at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia fueled her desire to aid on a global scale.

Born and raised in Chattanooga, TN where she graduated from the Baylor School, Katherine earned her B.A. at the University of Tennessee in academic psychology with a minor in ecology and evolutionary biology. A lifelong learner, while working as a Head Start teacher and social worker in Knox county she studied to have her degree related to early childhood education. She joins us now after working for the past ten years in the Harding Academy office of advancement as the alumni relations and communications manager, the primary relationship steward for the largest active constituency of the school. During her tenure, she increased community awareness and engagement, funds from individuals and corporate sponsors, and was instrumental in establishing the first alumni association sponsored scholarship fund, to assist those unable to afford the cost of tuition. A photographer on the side, Katherine also currently serves on the Board of Governance for the Junior League of Nashville, on various volunteer committees for the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere as well as the parent organizations of her children’s schools.

Jim Shepherd
President, Carlex Glass America (Retired), International Manufacturing
& Chairman, TNWAC Board of Directors

Jim Shepherd is Senior Advisor, Carlex Glass where he served as President from July 2012 to April 2017.  Carlex is a leading supplier of automative glass to the global OEM and replacement glass markets. He has worked as Executive Vice President of Central Glass America; VP & General Manager of Pittsburgh Glass Works ULC; General Manager of PPG Industries. Jim has lived and worked in France and has traveled extensively overseas  for business and pleasure.

Jim Shepherd was named to Chairman, Tennessee World Affairs Council on June 26, 2017. He is the first chairman to be appointed to the newly created post.

Rosaura Mejia
International Trade Coordinator, Averitt Express, Inc.

Rosaura Mejia is Cross Border Coordinator, Canada and Inbound at Averitt Express in Cookeville, Tennessee.  Rosaura holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Management from Tennessee Technological University.

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Patrick W. Ryan
Lieutenance Commander, U.S. Navy (Retired), Naval Intelligence / International Affairs Newsletter Publisher / President Tennessee World Affairs Council

Patrick Ryan was born and raised in New York City. At age 17 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served a 26-year career, assigned first in the Persian Gulf in 1973 followed by assignments in the Submarine Service where he attained the rank of Chief Petty Officer. Mr. Ryan received a BA degree at the University of South Carolina, in 1981, majoring in International Studies followed by commissioning in the Navy as an Ensign. Mr. Ryan served aboard numerous ships, headquarters staffs and overseas assignments before retiring in 1998 as a Lieutenant Commander. Among his intelligence assignments were the Office of Naval Intelligence, Joint Staff Intelligence Directorate in the Pentagon, the Center for Naval Analyses as Senior Intelligence Officer , and US Central Command headquarters as Branch Chief of WMD and Terrorism Intelligence Assessments and Executive Officer of the Intelligence Directorate. In 1997 he was selected to the Director Central Intelligence Exceptional Intelligence Analysis Program to research and assess the emerging Al Qaeda threat to U.S. forces. He has lived and worked in Bahrain, Italy and Japan and has traveled to about 50 countries for work and leisure. His post-military career included launching a newsletter publishing business focused on Middle East affairs. In 2007 he founded and began 12 years of service as the President of the Tennessee World Affairs Council.

“…among the best programs offered by your World Affairs Council…”

International Jobs & Careers Panel

We encourage students from all schools and colleges to attend to learn more about the opportunities to work in a variety of occupations in global affairs, including diplomacy, business, military and international service.

Here are the videos and details from previous programs:

• International Jobs/Careers Panel – October 24, 2017
• International Jobs/Careers Panel – March 27, 2017
• International Jobs/Careers Panel – October 17, 2016
• International Jobs/Careers Panel – April 11, 2016
• International Jobs/Careers Panel – November 5, 2015

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Intl Jobs and Careers Panel – October 17, 2016 – Click here for details

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Intl Jobs and Careers Panel – April 11, 2016 – Click here for details

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Intl Jobs and Careers Panel – Nov 5, 2015 – Click here for details

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Mission

The mission of the nonprofit, nonpartisan Tennessee World Affairs Council is to promote international awareness, understanding and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and to prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world.

Vision

A well-informed community that thinks critically about the world and the impact of global events.   

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