• Read this year's mentor bios and choose a mentor you'd like to meet with.
• Click on the form on this page and sign into your WFPG Member account. Not a member yet? You can always sign up here.
• In the form, you will see information for each mentor’s Calendly. Click on the link next to each mentor’s name to sign up for a time using Calendly. Select up to 6 sessions you'd like to register for. If we are able to accommodate additional registrations, we will let you know. Please note that if you register for more than 6 sessions at this time, your registration for all sessions will be canceled.
• When you sign up using Calendly, you’ll be asked for your name, email address, and a professional bio for your Mentor to review.
• WFPG will send you a confirmation email with a Zoom link attached. When your mentoring session is about to begin, use this Zoom link to attend the meeting.
• Read through our tips for a successful mentoring session and come prepared with questions for your mentor!

SIGN UP NOW!

Gloria Brokaw, Supervisory Transportation Security Specialist, Department of Homeland Security
I have over 25 years of experience as a national security professional. I currently serve as a Supervisory Transportation Security Specialist with U.S. Department of Homeland Security. I previously served as a Lead Foreign Affairs Specialist with the State Department where I helped coordinate U.S. China policy development. I also previously served as a senior intelligence analyst where I developed national security screening and vetting policy and protocols. I am a proud U.S. Army veteran.
Areas of expertise: Intelligence, Defense & Security, Regional Focus: Asia, US Government
Can offer advice on: General career advice, Applying & interviewing for jobs, Career transitions, Navigating my career as a woman

Jeannette Chu, Managing Director, PricewaterhouseCoopers
Former diplomat currently leading a consulting practice specializing in national security regulatory compliance, export controls, sanctions and counterproliferation. Non-resident senior associate on China business issues at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Areas of expertise:Intelligence, Defense & Security, International Business & Government Relations, International Trade & Finance, Regional Focus: Asia, US Foreign Service, US Government
Can offer advice on: General career advice, Applying & interviewing for jobs, Networking, Career transitions, Working abroad, Balancing family & career, Navigating my career as a woman, Navigating my career as a person of color

Elise Crane, Foreign Service Officer, U.S. State Department
I joined the Foreign Service as a public diplomacy-coned officer in 2011, just after graduating from The Fletcher School, where I focused on international conflict resolution and communications. I’ve served at U.S. embassies in Uganda, Colombia, and Croatia, as well as in Washington. I’m particularly passionate about exchanges and cultural diplomacy, having seen how effective people-to-people connections can be in bridging differences and mitigating disputes. I’ve also worked in private media and believe deeply in the role of a free press to inform and educate, fueling stronger democracies.LinkedIn
Areas of expertise: Public Diplomacy & Communications, Regional Focus: Europe/Eurasia, US Foreign Service, US Government
Can offer advice on: General career advice, Getting an advanced degree, Working abroad, Balancing family & career

Erika Elvander, Health Attache, US embassy, Beijing, Office of Affairs
Ms. Elvander is currently the Health Attache, US Embassy, Beijing. Prior to that she was the Director of the Office of Asia-Pacific in the Office of Global Affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services. She has also worked on post-deployment health issues for the Department of Defense, and coordinated women's health research at the National Institutes of Health. She has also worked on US-Russia and US-Ukraine health activities. Early in her career she worked for a grassroots women's health organization. Ms. Elvander has an MA in World History and a BA in Asian studies. She has worked in public health for over 20 years.Global Health, Regional Focus: Asia, Regional Focus: Europe/Eurasia, US Foreign Service, Nonprofits & NGOs, US Government, Women & Gender
Can offer advice on: General career advice, Applying & interviewing for jobs, Networking, Working abroad, Navigating my career as a woman

Nadine Farid Johnson, Washington Director, PEN America
Nadine Farid Johnson serves as PEN America’s Washington director, where she leads the organization’s high-level governmental engagement on all aspects of its free expression work. An attorney and advocate with a focus in democracy, human rights, and governance, she has a breadth of experience across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. She is a former Foreign Service Officer whose work spanned the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and multilateral affairs. Previously, she served as executive director of the ACLU of Kansas, and led operations and community engagement at Google L.A. She was a professor of law and political science at Gonzaga University and a Climenko Fellow at Harvard Law School. She is a graduate of DePauw University and Tulane Law School, and studied at the U.S. Naval War College. | LinkedIn
Areas of expertise: Human Rights, International Law, Regional Focus: Middle East, US Foreign Service, UN & International Organizations
Can offer advice on: General career advice, Applying & interviewing for jobs, Getting an advanced degree, Career transitions, Balancing family & career, Navigating my career as a woman, Navigating my career as a person of color

Düden Freeman, Managing Member, Idelire Consulting LLC
Ms. Freeman is a globetrotting entrepreneur and consultant. Previously, she was a career member of the U.S. Foreign Service between 2012-2021. She served as a Supervisory Passport Specialist at the Atlanta Passport Agency, as an Economic Officer in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, as a Vice Consul in Madrid, Spain, and as an Economic Officer in Bamako Mali. Before joining the Department of State, Ms. Freeman taught international business at Georgia State University, worked at think tanks, trade associations, and represented the United States on a bilateral business council. Ms. Freeman received her undergraduate degree Magna Cum Laude from Cornell University. She also studied abroad in Paris at the Sciences-Po, and has a Master of Public Administration degree from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. She is fluent in English, French and Turkish, and proficient in Spanish. | LinkedIn
Areas of expertise: International Business & Government Relations, International Trade & Finance, Public Diplomacy & Communications, Regional Focus: Africa, Regional Focus: Asia, Regional Focus: Europe/Eurasia, US Foreign Service, Think Tanks & Academia, US Government, Women & Gender
Can offer advice on: General career advice, Applying & interviewing for jobs, Networking, Getting an advanced degree, Applying for grants & fellowships, Career transitions, Working abroad, Working in the US as a foreign citizen, Balancing family & career, Navigating my career as a woman

Kathy Gest, President, Gest Consulting
Ms. Gest became an independent public affairs strategist, trainer and consultant in 2015 after a career as a journalist, Capitol Hill staff member, public affairs consultant and spokesperson for an NGO specializing in democracy building. She has a particular interest in international assignments. She served eight years as director of public affairs for the National Democratic Institute (NDI); 11 years at Powell Tate|Weber Shandwick, where she co-chaired the international practice; 10 years as press secretary to US Senator William Cohen of Maine; and 16 years as a journalist. She has participated in 23 election observation missions in 12 countries and has conducted training sessions for parliamentarians, political spokespeople, press secretaries and journalists from more than 30 countries. She is also immediate past chairman of the National Press Foundation. | LinkedIn
Areas of expertise: Journalism & Media, Public Diplomacy & Communications, International Development
Can offer advice on: General career advice, Networking

Jordan Hibbs, Foreign Affairs Specialist & Attaché, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Jordan Hibbs serves as a Foreign Affairs Professional with the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration. She previously served as a Senior Advisor and the Deputy Director for Nuclear Incident Response and NATO Relations in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Office of Nuclear Matters. Jordan previously served as the Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Programs (ASD(NCB)), the Strategic Weapons Action Officer for the Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs, and a Presidential Management Fellow at the U.S. Department of Energy. Jordan holds a Master’s in Science and Technology Policy and a Bachelor of Science from Arizona State University. Jordan is currently a member of the New America Nuclear Futures Working Group (NFWG) and serves on the Board for the Women in International Security DC Chapter (WIIS-DC). | LinkedIn
Areas of expertise: Intelligence, Defense & Security, Regional Focus: Asia, Regional Focus: Europe/Eurasia, US Foreign Service, US Government
Can offer advice on: General career advice, Applying & interviewing for jobs, Career transitions, Navigating my career as a woman

Madiha Hussaini, English Professor, Harold Washington University
Madiha Hussaini is a queer Muslim-born Buddhist second-generation immigrant South Asian American Nonfiction Creative Writer, TEFL-certified English Professor, Varsity Tutors Operations Specialist, and facilitator of interfaith discussions. She loves writing essays deconstructing family, faith, identity, and taboo topics. You can find her playing with her Husky-Shibu, Luna, at the dog park, reading or meditating at home, or just barely making it out alive on hiking trips with her husband. She and her family currently resides in Gary, Indiana. | LinkedIn
Areas of expertise: Women & Gender
Can offer advice on: General career advice, Applying & interviewing for jobs, Networking, Getting an advanced degree, Applying for grants & fellowships, Career transitions, Working abroad, Working in the US as a foreign citizen, Balancing family & career, Navigating my career as a woman, Navigating my career as a person of color, LGBTQ+ workplace challenges

Tina Kimble, Director, Government Affairs, Novelis
Tina Kimble's current and previous professional positions include: Director, Government Affairs, Corporate Strategy, August 2021-present. Director, Government Affairs, Tata Steel Europe, 2017-2021. Clerk of Court, US Court of International Trade, 2006-2017. Associate, Steptoe, 200-2006. Attorney, US International Trade Commission, 1998-2000. US Dept. of Justice, Civil Division, 1995-1998.
Areas of expertise: International Business & Government Relations, International Trade & Finance, Regional Focus: Asia, Regional Focus: Europe/Eurasia, US Government
Can offer advice on: General career advice, Applying & interviewing for jobs, Networking, Getting an advanced degree

Emma Marwood, Public Diplomacy Officer, US Department of State
Ms. Marwood joined the State Department's Foreign Service in 2010 as a Public Diplomacy-coned officer and has served in Sao Paulo, Brazil; Mexico City; and Washington, DC. She is currently serving as the Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Consulate in Barcelona, where she is responsible for all cultural, educational, outreach, and media programs at the Consulate and coordinates social media for both the Consulate and the U.S. Embassy in Madrid. She has a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. | LinkedIn
Areas of expertise: Public Diplomacy & Communications, Regional Focus: Europe/Eurasia, Regional Focus: Latin America, US Foreign Service
Can offer advice on: General career advice, Applying & interviewing for jobs, Networking, Working abroad, Balancing family & career, Navigating my career as a woman

Suzanne McGuire, Deputy Director, International Affairs, U.S. Navy
Ms. Suzanne McGuire is the Deputy Director, International Affairs in the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy (Policy). Previously, Suzanne was the senior advisor in the International Affairs Division at FEMA where she focused on the NATO Civil Emergency Planning Committee (CEPC) portfolio as well as building bilateral partnerships with European counterparts related to disaster response. In addition, Ms. McGuire was the lead U.S. negotiator for the U.S. Department of Defense Joint Strike Fighter (F-35) international cooperative agreements. Suzanne served as the Deputy Division Chief in the Central, South and Southeast Asia Division in the Joint Staff and a policy advisor to the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Ms. McGuire has held previous positions with the US Southern Command, US Senator Mark Pryor's office, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, National Nuclear Security Administration/Department of Energy, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Prior to her federal service, she worked as a contractor with the U.S. Air Force and the World Bank. She received her BA from Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI and her Master of International Studies from the University of Sydney in Australia. | LinkedIn
Areas of expertise: Intelligence, Defense & Security, Regional Focus: Asia, US Government
Can offer advice on: General career advice, Applying & interviewing for jobs, Career transitions, Balancing family & career, Navigating my career as a woman

Michael Moodie, Distinguished Fellow, Henry L. Stimson Center
Michael Moodie recently retired after a long career focused on international security and foreign policy in government, the policy research community, and academia. In government, he served as Assistant Director for Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade at the Congressional Research Service, Assistant Director for Multilateral Affairs at the US Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, and Special Assistant to the Ambassador and Assistant for Special Projects at the US Mission to NATO, among other positions. Mr. Moodie was co-founder and President of the Chemical and Biological Arms Control Institute and he served twice at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, where he was Senior Advisor to the President. He has also been a Visiting Professor at Georgetown University and George Mason University. He is currently an Associate Fellow at the London-based Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) and is Secretary and Member of the Board of the Wilton Park US Foundation.
Areas of expertise: Intelligence, Defense & Security, Peacekeeping & Conflict Resolution, Public Diplomacy & Communications, Regional Focus: Asia, Regional Focus: Europe/Eurasia, Regional Focus: Middle East, Nonprofits & NGOs, Think Tanks & Academia, UN & International Organizations, US Government
Can offer advice on: General career advice, Applying & interviewing for jobs, Networking, Applying for grants & fellowships, Career transitions, Working abroad, Balancing family & career

Judith Morrison, Senior Advisor Social Development, Inter-American Development Bank
Judith Morrison serves as the Senior Advisor in the Gender and Diversity Division at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), where she is responsible for leading analytical and development initiatives to fully incorporate marginalized communities in lending strategy and operations. Prior to joining the IDB she was the regional director for South America and Caribbean at the Inter-American Foundation (IAF), the executive director of the Inter-Agency Consultation in Latin America (a donor consortium established by the World Bank), and a program director at the Inter-American Dialogue. Judith Morrison holds a Master’s degree in economic development and regional planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where she received a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship in Public Policy and International Affairs and the Carroll Wilson Award for International Research.Specialties: International development, economic development for marginalized communities, social inclusion, inclusive statistics, poverty alleviation, economic development in marginalized communities, international policy, and Latin America. Languages: Spanish, Portuguese, English. | LinkedIn
Areas of expertise: International Business & Government Relations, Regional Focus: Latin America, International Development, Nonprofits & NGOs, Think Tanks & Academia, UN & International Organizations, US Government, Women & Gender
Can offer advice on: General career advice, Applying & interviewing for jobs, Balancing family & career, Navigating my career as a person of color

Betilde ​​Munoz-Pogossian
Betilde Muñoz-Pogossian (Venezuelan-American) is Director of the Department of Social Inclusion of the Secretariat for Access to Rights and Equity at the Organization of American States (OAS). She has edited, published and co-authored several articles and volumes on issues of Latin American reality. She is also a founding member and coordinator of the Network of Latin American Female Political Scientists #NoSinMujeres.” She is a regular columnist for the Venezuelan daily El Nacional, and for the Web portal Caracas Chronicles, as well as a guest columnist in various regional media. She is also a 2021 Fellow of the Draper Hills Fellowship on Democracy, Development and Rule of Law at Stanford University, and a Senior Associate (Non-Resident) at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, DC.In 2008, in 2016, 2019 and again in 2020, she won the Outstanding Performance Award granted by the Secretary General of the OAS, in recognition of her extraordinary work and contribution to the American organization. Betilde Muñoz-Pogossian has a Master's degree in International Relations from the University of South Florida and a Ph.D. in Political Science from Florida International University. | LinkedIn
Areas of expertise: Human Rights, Humanitarian Assistance, Regional Focus: Latin America, Think Tanks & Academia, UN & International Organizations, Women & Gender
Can offer advice on: General career advice, Applying & interviewing for jobs, Networking, Getting an advanced degree, Balancing family & career, Navigating my career as a woman

Ifeoma Okonji, Executive Director, Women Economic and Leadership Transformation Initiative
Ifeoma Okonji is a Social entrepreneur, a Customer experience Professional with over twelve years’ experience in both the profit and non-profit sector. She is an astute young lady who has a passion to empower young women, and a knack for smart work, dedication and teamwork. She is the founder of Women Economic and Leadership Transformation Initiative (WELTI) a non-profit that advocates for equality for young women in leadership, technology, health and education and also co-founder of the NPO hub a community of non-profit individuals and organizations who come together to share ideas,leverage opportunities and partner for sustainable social impact. She is also a Mozilla Open leader and mentor, an associate member of Women in Management, business and public service (WIMBIZ),an open knowledge thought leader/advocate and a member of Global giving International. She has a propensity to travel, sustain useful acquaintances and loves music and dancing. | LinkedIn
Areas of expertise: Nonprofits & NGOs, Women & Gender
Can offer advice on: General career advice, Networking, Navigating my career as a woman, Navigating my career as a person of color

Swadesh Rana, Senior Advisor, Journalist and Writers Foundation
A Senior Adviser to the Board of Directors of the Journalists and Writers Foundation, Swadesh Rana is the former Chief of the Conventional Arms Branch in the Department of Disarmament Affairs and was a Senior Political Officer in the Executive Office of Sceretary General Kofi Annan at the United Nations. She has oraganized or represented the United Nations at global events in over 35 countries worldwide.
A career international civil servant at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, Swadesh Rana is a permament US resident while retaining her citizenship of India. A presidential gold medalist for Masters in Political Science from the Punjab University , she holds a Ph. D in International Affairs from Jawahar Lal Nehru University and was a post doctoral Rockefeller Fellow at the Columbia University New York. She has received several awards and recognitions for academic and professional excellence and recently was a co-panelist for the 2022 annual meeting of the Academic Council of the UN System on the evidence driven resilience of the United Nations in facing the intensifying global challenges to human security. The panel identified three of those atop its concern as: Food Insecurity, Refugee displacement, and Armed violence.
Mrs. Swadesh Rana lives in Long Island with her husband Dr. Rajender Rana.

Susan Shultz, Gender and Social Equity Advocate, State Dept Senior Foreign Service - recently retired (2020)
Former U.S. diplomat with global experience contributing skills and experience as a voice and resource for organizations working in the fields of social and gender equity. Expertise in building public and institutional relationships, and leading teams and new initiatives across government, NGO and private sectors. Over a 20-plus year diplomatic career, Ms. Shultz served in U.S. Embassies in Turkey, Kenya, India, Slovenia, Australia, and Indonesia, as well as in Washington, DC. Prior to her State Department tenure, Ms. Shultz worked in senior-level management in manufacturing and the private sector, as well as in public relations for the NGO sector. Ms. Shultz is originally from the Chicago area and attended Stanford University. She speaks, to varying degrees, Italian, Turkish, Slovenian, and Bahasa Indonesia. | LinkedIn
Areas of expertise: Human Rights, Journalism & Media, Public Diplomacy & Communications, Regional Focus: Asia, Regional Focus: Europe/Eurasia, US Foreign Service, Nonprofits & NGOs, US Government, Women & Gender
Can offer advice on: General career advice, Applying & interviewing for jobs, Networking, Career transitions, Working abroad, Navigating my career as a woman

Jane Sloane, Senior Director, Women's Empowerment and Gender Equality, The Asia Foundation
Jane Sloane is Senior Director, Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality with The Asia Foundation based in San Francisco. In this role, she provides intellectual and programmatic leadership for The Asia Foundation’s programs to empower women and advance gender equality in Asia and the Pacific, working with a team in San Francisco and Washington and with the foundation’s 18 country offices in the region. She has over 30 years of experience working in international development and more than 15 years of experience in leadership roles focused on advancing women’s rights and promoting gender equality worldwide.
Areas of expertise: Human Rights, Humanitarian Assistance, Peacekeeping & Conflict Resolution, Public Diplomacy & Communications, Regional Focus: Asia, International Development, Nonprofits & NGOs, Women & Gender
Can offer advice on: General career advice, Applying & interviewing for jobs, Networking, Getting an advanced degree, Applying for grants & fellowships, Career transitions, Working abroad, Navigating my career as a woman

Tiana Spruill, Program Analyst, Department of State
Tiana Spruill has worked at the U.S. Department of State for 7 years, including starting her career as an intern. She is currently a government contractor and about to transition to a direct hire position. Tiana is a Program Analyst for the Exchange Visitor Program at the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Her portfolio includes over 100 universities and research institutions that sponsor exchange visitors to come to the U.S. on a J-1 visa. Tiana ensures that sponsors meet regulatory requirements in order to successfully implement exchange programs. She analyzes various applications and reports, assesses programmatic or visa-related issues, and provides guidance. Her sponsors rely on her knowledge and expertise in order to assist exchange visitors. Tiana earned a Master of Arts in Global Affairs and Human Security from the University of Baltimore. She has a TEFL certificate and previously taught English online to kids from China. | LinkedIn
Areas of expertise: US Government
Can offer advice on: General career advice, Applying & interviewing for jobs, Networking, Getting an advanced degree, Navigating my career as a woman, Navigating my career as a person of color

Nick Tiernan, Senior Director of External Affairs, Intrax Inc.
Mr. Tiernan is a Public Diplomacy expert with extensive experience in partnership building with the private sector, and particularly with the international exchange community. His work history includes 15 years of experience in the civil service at the U.S. State Department, and 15-years in public private partnership with the international exchange industry. Mr. Tiernan has over nine years of professional supervision and practical leadership experience. He has directed, motivated, coordinated, and integrated the work of others at the Department of State. Currently, he leads Intrax's external affairs division. His first private sector job. | LinkedIn
Areas of expertise: Public Diplomacy & Communications, Nonprofits & NGOs, US Government
Can offer advice on: General career advice, Applying & interviewing for jobs, Networking, Career transitions, Balancing family & career

Sample Questions:

• Career Path
• Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently in terms of career and graduate school choices after graduation?
• What advice do you have for someone just getting started?
• What made you interested in this career?
• What path did you take to get to your current position?
• Your Job
• What are the specific responsibilities of your role? What is your day-to-day?
• What are the biggest challenges you face in your role?
• What is most rewarding about your job?
• How does this organization’s culture differ from other places you’ve worked?
• What opportunities for professional development does your organization/agency offer?
• Connecting and Getting in the Door
• What do you look for in a new hire? What skills/experience are most essential in x?
• How do I find out about internships/job openings in this field? Are there any strategies that work best?
• Do I need a graduate degree? What kind of training or education is necessary?
• Are there any networks, listservs, or other professional groups that you are a part of?
• Advancement
• Do people normally move to another organization or do they move up internally?
• If you went to graduate school, how did you navigate that decision? How has it helped you in your career?
• How rapidly is the present career field growing?
• Other
• What have I not asked you about today that I should have?