Future diplomats across BYU gathered on 3 April for the annual Evening of Diplomacy, organized by Foreign Service Student Organization (FSSO) student officers. The event, designed to resemble a semi-formal embassy reception, was held at BYU’s Skyroom, where retired diplomats and international public servants who currently live across the Intermountain West gathered with BYU students.
This year’s honored keynote featured Brent Christensen, former Director of the American Institute in Taiwan and Chargé d’affaires of the US Mission to the International Civil Aviation Organization. As a retired Foreign Service Officer, he teaches courses for BYU’s Department of Political Science on diplomacy, Asia, and international relations. He shared compelling stories from his service in Taiwan and beyond, provided thoughtful commentary on the current geopolitical climate, and offered valuable perspectives on the evolving role of the United States in global affairs—not only highlighting key challenges facing American diplomacy today but also inspiring the next generation of foreign service professionals.
He mentioned these five key points for future diplomats:
- The importance of trust in diplomacy
- The United States is an indispensable nation
- “Corridor rep,” or what others think of you as a diplomat, matters
- Have a plan for each post
- Stay optimistic
Following Christensen’s remarks, the nearly one hundred students in attendance enjoyed refreshments and mingled with retired diplomats; over 50 former Foreign Service Officers live across the Wasatch Front, and many attend and share their time and expertise each year at the Evening of Diplomacy.
FSSO co-president Jonah Nelson, an International Relations major from Portland, Oregon who helped organized the event, said, “It was helpful to hear from someone who played such a unique role in American diplomacy and is one of the reasons so many BYU students are inspired to prepare for public service through the Foreign Service.”
The Evening of Diplomacy is the FSSO’s headline event for winter semester. Previous years featured speakers have included Miles Hansen, former Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs; Matthew Tueller, former Ambassador to Iraq, Kuwait, and Yemen, Robert Griffiths, former Consul General to China; and Deborah Jones, former Ambasasdor to Kuwait and Libya.
Students from any major can become involved with the FSSO, which is a student professional organization focused on preparing for opportunities in diplomacy and the Foreign Service. The FSSO is one of several student professional organizations sponsored by the David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies and regularly hosts off-the-record Ask Me Anything events, featuring former and current diplomats. Recent topics have included Foreign Service Officer Test preparation; unique opportunities as consular professionals for Arabic, Chinese, Portuguese, and Spanish speakers; and State Department Internships. These events also help with international students who are interested in diplomacy in their own home countries.
Find out more about the group by following them on Instagram @BYUFSSO , watching the Kennedy Center web calendar, and joining their email listserve, which has regular updates.