Success Stories
Michelle K. Warren: 2009 PMF
As I near the end of my four-month rotation in the
Political Section at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, it is
difficult to imagine a more challenging yet rewarding
experience. Within days of arriving at "Post" and taking up
the Religious Freedoms and Human Rights portfolio, I was tasked
with accompanying the Ambassador to meetings with local religious
leaders and government officials. I also acted as control
officer for several high-level USG visitors - including the Deputy
Assistant Secretary of State for Russia and Ukraine and the
Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues - and had the
privilege of serving as site officer during the Secretary of
State's visit to Ukraine on July 2. This included
co-organizing a civil society roundtable and "meet and greet" event
with local NGO and religious leaders (photo to the left, I am
second from the left).
In my capacity as Human Rights Officer, I am
regularly called upon to make quick judgment calls and advise my
supervisors, the Political Counselor, and the Ambassador on
delicate politicized issues regarding property restitution issues
in Ukraine. On August 4, I represented the United States at
an important commemorative event of particular importance to the
Jewish community in western Ukraine, affording me the opportunity
to experience public diplomacy work and to supervise the work of
the Political Section's most senior local staff member.
Moreover, I regularly meet with religious leaders, government
officials, and NGO representatives in my efforts to update the
Embassy's draft of two Congressionally-mandated reports on the
state of religious freedoms and human rights in
Ukraine.
Working at an Embassy has given me a unique insight
into the role of the Foreign Service in the implementation of U.S.
foreign policy. I will undoubtedly take this newfound
knowledge and experience back with me to my home office in
Washington, where I coordinate nonproliferation and arms control
policy for the European and Eurasian region. On a more
personal note, I will forever value the chance to live and work in
a country like Ukraine, and to travel to other post-Soviet
countries in order to more fully appreciate their emerging national
political cultures and identities.