The Ford School extends a warm welcome to Ken Roy, who will serve as the new Diplomat in Residence (DIR) for the North Central region. He will offer advice and guidance to students interested in exploring careers, internships, or fellowships with the U.S. Foreign and Civil Service.
Roy joined the foreign service in 1998. ”Throughout my life, I have felt a strong compulsion to serve my country and a desire to confront injustice wherever it reared its ugly head,” Roy said describing his chosen career path. “The Foreign Service offered a perfect avenue to do both. Being an FSO has been a tough but rewarding job that has given me much in the way of fulfilling experiences. I cannot imagine myself doing anything else!”
In his role as DIR, Roy will provide information on recruiting activities within the State Department to students and professionals throughout the North Central DIR region, which consists of Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Michigan. Furthermore, he will attend career fairs for students, alumni, and professionals, host career information sessions, and interact with organizations and groups throughout the North Central DIR region. The Ford School serves as one of 16 DIR academic host institutions in the United States.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ken Roy to the Ford School Community,” says Ambassador Susan D. Page, director of the Weiser Diplomacy Center. “He will serve as a great resource for students who are interested in learning about a wide range of careers in the State Department, thanks to his numerous postings at embassies and consulates overseas and offices in Washington, D.C.”
Roy will be taking over from Lou Fintor who served as the DIR from 2019-2021, and again from 2023 until now. The Ford School’s Weiser Diplomacy Center worked closely with Fintor who regularly informed students about State Department opportunities and hosted a number of career events, presentations, and advisory sessions for all interested U-M students.
Roy’s diplomatic experience includes time in Belize City, Belize; Panama City, Panama; Department of State Operations Center – “The Watch;” Senior UK Desk Officer; EUR Front Office; The Hague, Netherlands; Department of State Operations Center – Crisis Management Coordinator; Asuncion, Paraguay; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Foreign Policy Advisor, Air Force Special Operations Command; National Defense University; and Department of State Board of Assessors.
While assigned as the head of the combined Political, Economic, Commercial, and Anti-Narcotics Office at U.S. Embassy Paraguay, Roy helped guide local partners through what was commonly known as that country’s “bloodless coup.” Of that experience, Roy said, “The job required being empowered by higher-ups in the embassy and in Washington; patience and faith in local partners; diligence; smart risk-management; a sound ability to explain actions and events happening on the ground to audiences far afield; discretion about what to report and when; preparation; a broad network of contacts on the ground; and no small measure of luck.”
Ken Roy received his BA from Michigan State University and his Juris Doctor from Wayne State Law School. He received his MA in International Security Studies from the National Defense University at Fort McNair.
