Joseph F. Becelia, a career member of the United States Foreign Service, has replaced Mary Ann Casey as Diplomat in Residence at the University of Colorado at Boulder, and will spend the next year lecturing, teaching and reaching out to the public about foreign policy.
The U.S. Department of State has placed Becelia -- one of only eight nationally dispersed Diplomats in Residence -- at CU-Boulder for the 1999-2000 school year to work with students and others interested in foreign affairs.
"I want to make myself as useful to the university and its students as possible," Becelia said. His assignment will include "teaching a course about the practice of diplomacy, speaking to classes or individuals and doing lectures on and off campus."
The State Department chooses host universities that have high academic standards and institutions made up of diverse student populations, Becelia said.
During his stay, Becelia is stationed in Smith Hall on CU-Boulder聮s main campus, and is working with the Smith Hall International Program sponsored by the Office of International Education. He also will teach a course in the International Affairs Program in spring 2000.
One of his main roles on campus is alerting people interested in international affairs to State Department careers and student opportunities. One example, according to Becelia, is the annual written examination for entry into the Foreign Services.
The exam will be given nationwide, including on the CU-Boulder campus, on Nov. 6. The deadline for registration is Oct. 8.
To give students a taste of real-life situations and challenges in the making and carrying out of U.S. foreign policy, Becelia will teach a course during the Spring 2000 semester.
"In the class, I will try to put students in situations where they will play the roles of diplomats carrying out foreign policy," Becelia said. "They will be put in problematic situations, and will have to try to work them out."
He also plans to spend time lecturing on and off campus. He will give talks at CU-Boulder and other universities and colleges throughout Colorado, including Denver and Ft. Collins.
Becelia, who has been a member of the U.S. Foreign Service since 1964, has spent time working in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; London, England; Reykjavik, Iceland; Belem, Brazil; Brasilia, Brazil; and San Jose, Costa Rica, where he served as acting ambassador. Throughout his career, he has been primarily responsible for reporting on political and related events and their implications to U.S. interests.
"Communication is a vital skill in international affairs," Becelia said. "Because receiving good solid information is a very important part of your job."
For further information about examinations, career opportunities and internships with the U.S. Foreign Service contact Becelia at (303) 786-3189.