About this Event

Diplomats around the world are facing one of the most unique international challenges the world has ever faced. Join the Vermont Council on World Affairs as we host Ambassador Nancy Powell, U.S. Ambassador to India (2012-2014) and Former Director General of the U.S. Foreign Service (2009-2012), as we take a closer look at what diplomacy means during the COVID-19 pandemic. While in service, Ambassador Powell headed the United States Department of State’s responses to both the Avian flu and Ebola outbreaks.

Meet the Panel

Ambassador Nancy J. Powell retired from the U.S. Foreign Service on May 31, 2014 after a thirty-seven year career. She held the highest rank in the United States Foreign Service, with the title of Career Ambassador. Her overseas tours include Canada, Nepal, Pakistan, Togo, India, Bangladesh, Uganda, and Ghana. Among the senior positions she has held are Ambassador to Uganda, Ghana, Pakistan, Nepal, and India as well as Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Human Resources, National Intelligence Officer for South Asia at the National Intelligence Council, and the State Departmens Senior Coordinator for Avian Influenza. Ambassador Powell returned to the State Department for three months in September, 2014 to coordinate the agency’s Ebola effort.

Ambassador Powell is the recipient of the Homeland Security Service to America Medal for 2006 for Avian Influenza preparations and the U.S. State Department Arnold L. Raphel Award for 2003. Ambassador Powell graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1970. She currently resides in Lewes, Delaware.

Edward McMahon’s professional career emphasizes the importance and centrality of democracy and governance in promoting international development and stability. He has an integrated perspective encompassing government service, engagement in the NGO sector, and academia.

Dr. McMahon currently holds a joint appointment as Adjunct Associate Professor of Community Development and Applied Economics, and Political Science at the University of Vermont. He previously was Dean’s Professor of Applied Politics and Director of the Center on Democratic Performance (CDP) at Binghamton University (SUNY). Dr. McMahon also served as Senior Advisor for Democracy and Governance in USAID’s Policy and Program Coordination Bureau. From 1989-98 he was Senior Program Officer and Regional Director for East, Central and West Africa at the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs. He previously spent 10 years as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State, specializing in African Affairs. He has also served as a Senior Research Associate at Freedom House and as a consultant for numerous democracy and governance projects.

Registration

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Event Format: Webinar

• Attendee Video: Off

• Attendee Audio: Off

• Attendee Interaction: Polls, Submit Questions through Q+A, Raise Virtual Hand to Request Unmute

In this virtual event, your video will not be displayed and you will be automatically muted. You may interact by submitting questions into the Q+A box, answering polls, and raising your virtual hand to be unmuted.