University of the District of Columbia News November 21, 2022 Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Brian P. McKeon visited UDC on November 16, 2022, as part of continuing efforts to engage with students on U.S foreign policy priorities and attract candidates who reflect a demographic cross-section of American society to careers in the State Department. Darion Akins, the diplomat-in-residence for the DC Metro Area accompanied Deputy Secretary McKeon. Other DACOR members in the audience included Rhonda Ferguson-Augustus, mentor Dawn Thomas and Tom Brannan, chair of DACOR’s Public Outreach Committee. Deputy Secretary McKeon met with UDC President Ronald Mason and other university leaders, before and during the event, including College of Arts and Sciences Dean April Massey. Students participating in the UDC Diplomatic and Consular Officers Retired (DACOR) mentorship program were on hand to learn about career possibilities. The UDC-DACOR partnership agreement was signed by President Ronald Mason Jr. and James Dandridge II, president of DACOR, on September 10, 2021, at the historic DACOR Bacon House in Washington, DC. It houses a museum dedicated to diplomacy in the U.S. Founded in 1952 by foreign service officers, DACOR has 1,550 members. DACOR mentors are paired with select students who have and are currently taking the introduction to global studies class at UDC. Participants include those studying political science with a concentration in global studies. Dr. Jasmine Yarish (Dr. JNY), assistant professor of political science, and Dr. Amanda Huron, associate professor of interdisciplinary social sciences, also participated in the event. Yarish serves as the faculty coordinator for the UDC-DACOR mentor program in cooperation with Ferguson-Augustus and Daphne Titus of DACOR. As a team, they hope to break down barriers and help students navigate the sometimes-challenging process of applying for jobs at the State Department. Students participate in workshops on resume writing, explicitly targeting the requirements and needs to be a successful candidate. LaTasha Denard Executive Assistant HBCU Library Alliance (678) 210-5801 ext. 102 http://www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> ldenard@hbculibraries.org<mailto:ldenard@hbculibraries.org> "Transforming for Tomorrow while Preserving the Past." Sandra M. Phoenix, Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance 678-210-5801 ext. 101 (office) 404-702-5854 (cell) http://www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> Seek justice, honor the ancestors, honor the children and those yet to come. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/ and Twitter at https://twitter.com/HBCULibAlliance Check out "PULSE!" The HBCU Library Alliance's News Source! - https://hbculibraryalliance.wordpress.com/