The Diplomacy Institute establishes a comprehensive vision for the future to address the myriad challenges on how we contribute to and lead the process of creating good global citizens. Such a comprehensive vision entails more than just training diplomats. It involves the creation of a range of education and training programs, for diplomats, for their staff, for UHCL faculty and staff, for our students, and the community at large. It encompasses degrees and certifications, partnerships with other institutions of higher education, partnerships with business and industry, seminars, lectures, faculty, and student research and exchanges, and working with governmental agencies and actors, both foreign and domestic.

The purpose of the Diplomacy Institute Internal Advisory provides opportunities for UHCL faculty, staff, and leadership to provide support and non-binding recommendations for UHCL's Diplomacy Institute. The Internal Committee members will use their experience to support the growth and success of the Diplomacy Institute.

Diplomacy Institute International Advisory Committee Charter

Advisory Committee Members

Gigi Do, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President of Global Learning and Strategy
Founding Member of UHCL Diplomacy Institute
Office of Global Learning and Strategy

Edmund "Butch" Herod, Ph.D.
Assistant Vice President of the Diplomacy Institute
Office of Global Learning and Strategy

Daniel Katz, Ph.D.
Programs and Curriculum Coordinator of the Diplomacy Institute
Office of Global Learning and Strategy

Mike McMullen, Ph.D.
Professor of Sociology
College of Human Sciences and Humanities 

Leslie Gauna, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor of ESL/Bilingual Education 
College of Education

Ashish Chandra, Ph.D.
Professor of Healthcare Administration 
College of Business 

LeeBrian Gaskins, Ph.D.
Assistant Vice President of Information Technology/Chief Information Officer
Office of Information Technology

Kathryn Matthew, Ph.D. 
Vice Provost

Bianca Schonberg, Ph.D.
Executive Director of Education Abroad and Scholar Services
Office of Education Abroad and Scholar Services

Sherry Hawn, Esq, CPA
Associate Vice President for Business Operations

Livia Link-Raviv was appointed in August 2021 as Consul General of Israel to the Southwest United States, which is responsible for the five-state region of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.Consul General Link-Raviv has been a career diplomat in the Israeli MFA for the past twenty years. Her presentation was entitled "Start-Up Nation: Israel's Business Innovation and Startup Ecosystem." The event was held in collaboration with the UHCL College of Business.

View The Hon. Livia Link-Raviv's presentation (YouTube)

Aseem R. Mahajan was appointed Consul General of India in Houston in January 2020. Prior to assuming charge as Consul General of India in Houston, he was Ambassador/DPR of India to the World Trade Organization, Geneva. In his earlier diplomatic assignments, he had served as the Deputy High Commissioner in Indian mission in Kuala Lumpur and Dhaka and as the Consul General of India, Osaka, Japan. He had also served in Indian Missions in Tokyo and Vientiane, Laos. His presentation was entitled, "Reflections on Contemporary India and India-U.S. Relations."

Download the Diplomatic Lecture Series 2022-23: Hon. Aseem R. Mahajan Presentation Flyer

Vitalii Tarasiuk was appointed as Consul General of Ukraine in Houston in December 2021 with a consular district that covers the territories of seven US States: Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. His presentation was entitled, "An Update on the Current Situation of Ukraine's Fight against Russian Aggression."

View The Hon. Vitalii Tarasiuk's Presentation (YouTube)

Alicia Kerber is a member of the Mexican Foreign Service since 1991, with the rank of Ambassador. She has served in several positions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and missions of Mexico abroad, and has also worked in the National Commission on Human Rights and the Ministries of Tourism and Education, and in the Institute of Social Security for State Workers in Mexico City. Since June 2019, Amb. Kerber is Consul General of Mexico in Houston. This event, "Women and Diplomacy," was held in partnership with the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston.

View the The Hon. Alicia Kerber's Presentation (YouTube)

Renaud Seigneuric, Dr, PhD, HDR, serves as Attaché for Science and Technology. He is part of the French Office for Science and Technology (OST), based in Washington DC. His office in Houston covers Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Dr. Seigneuric delivered a presentation titled "Science Diplomacy 101: Life lessons from a scientist turned diplomat." UHCL students, faculty, and staff were in attendance to learn more about the power and value of science, communication, and science diplomacy

View Dr. Renaud Seigneuric's Presentation (YouTube)

Australian Consul General to Houston Benson Saulo, the first Indigenous person to be appointed an Australian Consul-General, delivered remarks on contemporary developments involving Australia and the dynamic Indo-Pacific region. From the recently launched AUKUS trilateral security partnership between Australia, the U.K., and the U.S. to the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (or Quad) involving Australia, India, Japan, and the U.S., Australia is actively shaping the evolution of regional architecture. In addition, the country is supporting energy transition efforts in collaboration with the U.S. as part of the American “Build Back Better” initiative.

Following his official remarks, Consul General Saulo engaged in a moderated question and answer session with Diplomacy Institute leadership, members of the audience, and virtual attendees via Zoom

View The Hon. Benson Saulo's Remarks (PDF)

The Diplomacy Institute's Diplomatic Lecture Series presented a lively conversation with special guest, Dr. Andrew Exum, an American scholar of the Middle East and a former U.S. Army officer, to discuss the most pressing contemporary diplomatic issues.

From 2015 to 2017, Andrew served as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Middle East Policy. He was the principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense and Under Secretary of Defense for Policy on international security strategy and policy for the Middle East, and for oversight of security cooperation programs, including foreign military sales, in the region. Andrew served four years on active duty in the U.S. Army. He led a platoon of light infantry in Afghanistan and was decorated for valor during Operation Anaconda in 2002. He later led Army Rangers as part of special operations task forces in both Afghanistan and Iraq.

View Dr. Andrew Exum's Presentation (YouTube)

Ms. Kris Sivertson is the Diplomat in Residence for Texas for the U.S. Department of State and has served in the U.S. foreign service for over 20 years. Dr. Gigi Do, Associate Vice President of the Office of Global Learning & Strategy, hosted a conversation with Ms. Sivertson and discussed the exciting and incredibly diverse agency that provides internships, fellowships and employs U.S citizens in a variety of skill sets to represent the United States to global audiences. Careers in the U.S. Department of State range from engineering and information technology to a total of 24 different career tracks. Students from all majors were encouraged to attend to learn more.

Download the Diplomatic Lecture Series 2020-21: Ms. Kris Sivertson Presentation Flyer

Ambassador Ahn has dedicated over 35 years to foreign service and has represented the Republic of Korea in various countries including, Switzerland, Indonesia, Turkmenistan, and the United States. We were honored to have Ambassador Ahn Myung-Soo be the first guest lecturer in our inaugural Diplomatic Lecture Series 2020-2021. The ambassador delivered a special lecture titled, "ROK-US Alliance and the Korean Peninsula" to UHCL's Political Science 2306 class. This talk was hosted by Dr. Se Hyoung Yi from the College of Human Sciences and Humanities

Download the Diplomatic Lecture Series 2020-21: Ambassador Ahn Myung-Soo Presentation Flyer

University of Houston-Clear Lake's (UHCL) Diplomacy Institute proudly presented Mr. Charles C. Foster, J.D., Vice Dean of the Houston Consular Corps, the Honorary Consul General of the Kingdom of Thailand and Chairman of one of the largest global immigration law firms, Foster LLP. Mr. Foster delivered a lecture, "Fostering Diplomatic Relations Through the Houston Consular Corps." This talk was hosted by Assistant Vice President of Global Learning and Strategy Dr. Gigi Do.

View Mr. Charles Foster's Presentation (YouTube)