CPD Announces Summer Institute Class of 2012

The USC Center on Public Diplomacy will kick off its 2012 Summer Institute in Public Diplomacy at USC on July 23. The professional training program will run through August 3.

Now in its seventh year, the CPD Summer Institute in Public Diplomacy is an intensive two-week course designed to immerse participants in the critical study of public diplomacy by combining traditional classroom instruction with collaborative hands-on exercises.

“Through sophisticated training, the Summer Institute is designed to elevate the professionalism of those in and out of government who are involved in public diplomacy. This year, we have seen an increase of highly sophisticated and experienced practitioners who have applied to the 2012 program," said CPD Director Philip Seib.

Taught by some of the world’s most distinguished public diplomacy experts, this exclusive program has garnered global attention and attracts participants of the highest caliber from a wide range of public diplomacy career fields including foreign ministries, intelligence and economics agencies, military, media, defense and homeland security, public relations, and the private sector.

This year, the Center expects 23 participants from 9 countries: Croatia, Israel, Mexico, Netherlands, South Africa, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States.

This year's class includes:

Nora Abusitta (UAE)
Advisor to the UAE Ambassador
Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, Washington, DC

Shay Attias (Israel)
Head of Public Diplomacy Department
Ministry of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs, Israel

Candice Eraina Bryant (USA)
Strategic Communications Analyst
U.S. Government, Washington, DC

Anna Burns (USA)
Candidate, Master's of Public Diplomacy
USC Annenberg School of Communication & Journalism

Sylvia Cabrera (Mexico)
Consul of Protection and Legal Counsel
Consulate of Mexico in Seattle, Washington

Jonathan Chait Auerbach (Mexico)
Deputy Consul General
Consulate General of Mexico in Dallas, Texas

Fadi Chehade (USA)
President and CEO-designate, ICANN
Chairman, Vocado, LLC

Glen Davis (USA)
Public Diplomacy Officer, Afghanistan Desk
Davis Fellow, Council of American Ambassadors
U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC

Jamie Dragon (USA)
Program Officer, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC

Michael Duffin (USA)
Candidate, Master's of Public Diplomacy
USC Annenberg School of Communication & Journalism

Soonji Kwon (South Korea)
Deputy Director/Team Leader
The Korea Foundation, Seoul, Korea

Peter Lerner (Israel)
Spokesman, Central Command
Israel Defense Forces

Sara Mercado (USA)
Press Officer/Spokesperson
U.S. Consulate General, Rio de Janeiro

Lydia Mulholland (United Kingdom)
Head of Public Diplomacy Team, Communications and Engagement Department
UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Jacquelien Nienhuis (Netherlands)
Deputy Head of Public Diplomacy, Press and Culture
Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Washington, DC

Golden Neswiswi (South Africa)
Director, Multimedia Production
Department of International Relations and Cooperation, South African Government

Michelle Patel (United Kingdom)
Head of Communications Excellence and FCO Reputation
UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Jelena Perleta (Croatia)
Journalist and Editor
Croatian Radio Television (CRT)

Michelle Riebeling (USA)
Public Diplomacy Instructor, Foreign Service Institute
U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC

Addie Schroeder (USA)
Foreign Service Officer
Davis Fellow, Council of American Ambassadors
U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC

Marissa Scott (USA)
Public Affairs Officer
U.S. Embassy in Niamey, Niger

Dorien van Boven (Netherlands)
Director of Public Relations
Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency

Daniel Zohar-Zonshine (Israel)
Director of Public Affairs Division
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Israel

For more information on the Summer Institute, click here, or contact Stacy Ingber, Assistant Director of Programming and Events, via email at cpdevent@usc.edu or by telephone at 213-821-2078.