April 27, 2003 - Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University: Joseph Hilliard's final Peace Corps assignment was as country director in Banjul, the Gambia

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Gambia: Peace Corps The Gambia : The Peace Corps in the Gambia: April 27, 2003 - Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University: Joseph Hilliard's final Peace Corps assignment was as country director in Banjul, the Gambia

By Admin1 (admin) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 9:05 pm: Edit Post

Joseph Hilliard's final Peace Corps assignment was as country director in Banjul, the Gambia



Joseph Hilliard's final Peace Corps assignment was as country director in Banjul, the Gambia

Diplomat Brings Career Opportunities, Experience, To FAMU

For most of his life, Joseph Hilliard has lived as a foreigner in Asia, Africa and Latin America working to improve international affairs between these countries and the United States.

Now Hilliard is using his foreign outreach skills as a two-year diplomat in residence at Florida A&M University to recruit minority students to work as foreign service officers.

Housed in room 103-A Capital View, in the School of Business and Industry Building, the program offers career support and internships with the U.S. Department of State.

"FAMU is one of several historically black colleges and universities targeted for the outreach program because of its excellence and reputation (for producing the best and brightest students)," he said. "Presently, there are about 4,400 diplomats in the state department, five percent of those are black. One of the our major goals is to make the department more representative of the general population."

Through his residency at FAMU, Hilliard hopes to convince students that there are significant benefits of working in international affairs. One of those benefits includes acting as a communications agent for the United States.

"As a foreign services officer, you get to tell America's story," Hilliard said. "Most of what foreigners know about Americans are learned from watching movies. There are a lot of misperceptions in what they are watching, and it gives the wrong impression."

Hilliard said many people have reservations about taking the test required to become a foreign service officer. "They think the test is biased," he said. "But that's not true. There are study guides available to help them prepare for the test and mentors to help navigate them through the process."

After counseling by Hilliard, students interested in this career would take a written examination given once a year. This year the test will be administered on Nov. 4. The deadline to register is Oct. 6.

Hilliard's experience in foreign relations spans back 28 years. Since 1972, he has spent only six years in the United States. His tours include 10 years in Asia, five years in Africa and two years in Latin America.

"Every country is different," he said. "There are differences in the culture and language and in simulation. A lot of people think because you say you're a foreign service officer that you don't live in the local communities. When I was on assignment in these countries, I lived in the local communities and interacted with the local people."

Hilliard earned a bachelor of arts degree in business administration from Eastern Oregon State College in 1967; his master of science degree in international resource management in 1979 from the University of Washington; and his master of science degree in resource planning in 1993 from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

After fulfilling a two-year commitment with the Army he accepted a position as business consultant at PACT Inc., in San Francisco. He joined the Peace Corps in 1972 as associate director of administration in Nairobi, Kenya.

Hilliard transferred to Malawi in 1975 where he served as country director. His final Peace Corps assignment was as country director in Banjul, the Gambia. He is married to the former Celia J. Rankins. They have two children, Malaika and Tendayi.



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Story Source: Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - The Gambia; Country Directors - The Gambia

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