Caitlin Dobson is a second-year Master of Public Diplomacy student with a focus on cultural diplomacy, exchange diplomacy, and nonprofit advocacy centered around human rights.

Having attended Michigan State University as an undergraduate, majoring in cultural anthropology and journalism, Caitlin developed a strong passion for volunteer travel. Her international and philanthropic experience has led her to 6 continents and 40 countries thus far, addressing issues ranging from environment to health to world hunger to disaster relief. Her passion for philanthropy continues to be the driving force in everything with which she becomes involved. Prior to the program Caitlin garnered 6 years of professional development through the travel industry, and in 2009 was listed as a top 30 Under 30 Travel Agent by Travel Agent Central magazine.

Caitlin traveled with USC’s Alternative Winter Break volunteer program to India where she worked at a women's sewing center, helping to nurture and facilitate female empowerment projects. She joined a cohort of public diplomacy students to Sao Paulo, Brazil, where she researched exchange diplomacy. She interned with Human Rights Watch Los Angeles, where her work centered around farmworkers rights and modern day slavery in the United States. Most recently Caitlin interned with PASSOP (People Against Suffering Oppression and Poverty) in Cape Town, South Africa, where she worked on a grassroots level, directly assisting refugees coming to South Africa from Zimbabwe, Congo, DRC, Malawi, and other African nations. Caitlin is the professional development chair of the Association of Public Diplomacy Scholars. She looks forward to taking her passion for advocacy and exchange diplomacy to new heights.