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Calling all students! USAID conference hosted at FIU Oct. 18-20

Calling all students! USAID conference hosted at FIU Oct. 18-20

October 14, 2022 at 11:31am


By Eric Feldman

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the federal government agency which oversees the United States’ humanitarian aid and disaster response efforts abroad, is hosting its second annual conference and career expo at FIU from October 18-20. 

The free, open-to-the-public conference focuses on what USAID does, why partnerships between federal agencies and Hispanic Serving Institutions like FIU are important, and how students and alumni can start a career with the agency. High level speakers include the Agency’s Deputy Administrator Paloma Adams-Allen and Chief Diversity Officer Neneh Diallo.

The event is the first major FIU-USAID collaboration since USAID’s Administrator Samantha Power and FIU Interim President Kenneth Jessell signed an agreement to work closely together on talent development and research efforts this March. During the conference, FIU and USAID leaders will meet to discuss additional projects including the already-in-the-works FIU-USAID digital badge and speaker series to prepare students who wish to work in international development. 

The hybrid conference takes place virtually October 18th and 19th and has in-person sessions at the Wolfe University Center ballrooms at the BBC October 20th, which includes free lunch and a networking reception there. In addition to USAID-focused panel discussions, representatives of the Peace Corps will be available.

The conference was designed to correspond with the Partnership for Public Service’s “Public Service Roadshow.” The Partnership, the nation’s leading nonprofit promoting federal government service, will host additional sessions at MMC featuring the speakers from the Cybersecurity Talent Initiative and Millennium Challenge Corporation, as well as a session for humanities majors, highlighting the fact that there is opportunity in government for all majors and interests.

In the weeks prior to the conference, USAID challenged several student groups, including DC Fly-In alumni and current Hamilton Scholars in Washington, to pitch ideas of how the agency could be more innovative and inclusive in supporting women farmers in Peru. The winners of this case competition, which includes a $15,000 grand prize, will be announced at BBC on Thursday.

To register for the USAID conference, click here.