Public Diplomacy: Imagining paths forward with our students
January 29, 2026
Public Diplomacy: Imagining paths forward with our studentsPublic Diplomacy fosters communication outside of traditional diplomatic channels. At its best, it supports strong international relationships grounded in mutual respect and genuine curiosity that lend stability at times of political transition or upheaval. This is undeniably such a time.
The past year brought a rash of changes to U.S. Public Diplomacy. Reductions in force at USAID, major cuts to Voice of America and other signature units under the U.S. Agency for Global Media, and the takeover of the U.S. Institute for Peace (renamed the Donald J. Trump Institute for Peace in December) were in the first wave. In June 2025, the Fulbright Board resigned over alleged government interference, marking a caesura in the flagship educational exchange program. Just this month, the U.S. withdrew from over sixty multilateral organizations, conventions, and treaties.
Our students want to understand the implications of these changes. The sense of urgency they bring to classroom discussions of how our theoretical and historical readings can help us to describe and analyze current events is laudable. Recruitment for the Public Diplomacy minor so far has exceeded expectations. It could not have happened without the support of colleagues in many CAS departments who reviewed proposals, agreed to list courses as program electives, and advised students. More recently, I’ve been grateful for the chance to speak with admissions staff about how to make prospective students aware of the program. I hope you’ll consider helping to get the word out, too.
What is Public Diplomacy?
Public Diplomacy is an interdisciplinary field that brings together perspectives from the humanities and social sciences to promote respect for diversity, peace, and stability globally. Leading with culture and communication, it centers positive agendas for broad, diverse audiences with the goal of building international trust, respect, and shared values across communities. Its goals include the promotion of civil society through person-to-person exchange and cultural programs, often in arenas such as sport, art, or performance, and improving access to reliable, accurate information about issues of public interest.
Can students in my program add the minor?
The fifteen-credit curriculum is flexible by design. A required Keystone Course can be taken at any point in a student’s studies. Students select electives that allow them to focus on traditional cultural diplomacy, public diplomacy as information management, or combine both. Students incorporate at least one experiential option designed to support vocational reflection into their twelve elective credits.
Jamie Trnka
Professor of German and Comparative Cultural Studies
Department of Classics and Modern Languages
Image taken from Unsplash: https://unsplash.com/photos/assorted-flag-YeO44yVTl20