Diplomacy and foreign affairs

The Ford School's Weiser Diplomacy Center has made the University of Michigan a leading, dynamic hub for engagement with the foreign policy community and a national leader in international policy education.  

Established in 2018 with a transformative gift from U-M alumni Ron and Eileen Weiser, the Weiser Diplomacy Center brings to campus high-profile leaders in foreign affairs, including Hillary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, Samantha Power, Susan Rice, Steve Biegun, Stephen Hadley, and Denis McDonough. We host professors of practice in international diplomacy, distinguished leaders who teach, mentor, and inspire our students. We develop and host simulations and other practical opportunities for students to grapple with issues such as environmental diplomacy and countering violent extremism. We support student-initiated projects, internships, and travel around the world.  

The next generation of creative, well-trained, committed diplomats and foreign affairs professionals is studying at the Ford School. We offer competitive fellowships to top graduate students, awarding up to $25,000 per year.

To address today’s global challenges, we need professionals who have a strong grounding in history and social science and who can apply that knowledge to complex practical problems.” 

John Ciorciari, director of the Weiser Diplomacy Center
Community event

What's next for Afghanistan?

A panel of Ford School experts explored what the impact of troop withdrawal might be on international relationships, counterterrorism efforts, and humanitarian conditions within Afghanistan.
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Research insights

How and when is shared sovereignty a success or failure in fragile states?

Ciorciari explores shared government agreements in his new book.
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Student experience

Students tackle deadly outbreak in simulation competition

The Ford School co-hosted 90 students from across the globe in the virtual NASPAA-Batten student simulation competition.
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Student experience

Learning to negotiate: U.S. Army War College and Weiser Diplomacy Center host crisis simulation at the Ford School

For a second consecutive year, Ford School graduate students simulated diplomatic negotiations to resolve a long-standing conflict. Thirty-two students focused on the crisis in Jammu and Kashmir, and were advised by former ambassadors and U.S. Army War College experts.
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Student experience

Simulations help students hone foreign policy skills

Ford School students take on the EU-sponsored Schuman Challenge and place second. And 16 students participated in the new U.S. Army War College International Strategic Crisis Negotiation Exercise.
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Student experience

WDC adds Diplomacy Lab

Through a partnership with the U.S. State Department, students will tackle real-world issues. 
Read more about the Diplomacy Lab
Faculty expert

Page reflects on representing America abroad

In the Atlantic, Page said that “being Black and a woman — and the face of America before a fledgling country (in South Sudan) — held enormous significance."
Read more about Page
Faculty expert

Ann Chih Lin named U-M Center for Chinese Studies director

She will lead efforts for one of the nation’s most prominent centers devoted to understanding China, past and present.
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Student experience

New international policy opportunity for students interested in the Gulf region

The new program offers an intensive eight-week fellowship for graduate students interested in the Gulf region.
New international policy opportunity
Alumni impact

Sean Jones (MPP '00) USAID Ethiopia Mission Director

"After twenty years, six countries on three continents, and leadership of three Presidential Initiatives, I am proud of my small part in helping companies and governments embrace the once-radical worldview that companies have an immense responsibility to all of their stakeholders, not just to their shareholders."
Read about Jones' work
Research insights

Yusef Neggers study on informed voting in India

“While there’s moral aversion to having politicians with serious criminal charges in office, it does seem that there’s at least some economic rationale.”
Yusef Neggers study on informed voting in India
Student experience

Connecting our students with diplomats

Students have opportunities to meet with and hear from the Ford School's visiting speakers and our U.S. State Department Diplomat in Residence through office hours and group meetings, and by serving as moderators for public events.

Here, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton meets with graduate students Maggie Barnard (MPP '21) and Jonatan Martinez (MPP '20), during her visit. Barnard is a Weiser Diplomacy Fellow.
Hillary Clinton and Maggie Barnard