UVU Student Experiential Learning by Hosting Ambassador Eileen Malloy

Utah Valley University students hosted Ambassador Eileen Malloy on March, 6, 2017

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Utah Valley University students hosted Ambassador Eileen Malloy on March, 6, 2017. Ambassador Malloy is an experienced professional of the U.S. Foreign Service. Working for several decades, Ambassador Malloy has served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic (1994-97). She has also held numerous positions in the State Department, Australia, Turkmenistan, and the Soviet Union.

Matt Rands Introduces Ambassador Malloy to the Student Audience at UVU

Students ran everything related to her visit as part of the experiential learning initiative at UVU which provides student learning through hands-on experiences. Those involved, worked under the Utah International Mountain Forum, a coalition of student-led clubs at UVU (www.utahimf.org). Many members of UIMF are non-traditional students, who combine education with the need to work part or full time and take care of families. From planning this event to its execution, students were the critical force in successfully fulfilling the coordination and protocol needs of the event.

Months before the visit of Ambassador Malloy students busily discussed and planned in fine detail her visit. UIMF Leadership laid out a framework of tasks that needed to be done and shared it with members of the clubs. The key role of leadership was not to direct or micromanage each task, but rather to inspire members to become leaders themselves and take initiative while remaining flexible to changes. With this idea, the tasks were dived up with students given the ability to do the task themselves or coordinate with other students to accomplish their given task.

The key to leadership is that the head of an organization can share his vision to influence his/her peers to see what is desired and work out any flaws. UIMF leadership gives all students the opportunity to feel that they have a part in the event.

Directing the operation, I networked with various UVU organizations and departments to fulfill the logistical and financial demands. I learned to coordinate placing the UVU Center for Multicultural Studies in charge of hosting a luncheon for her. I contacted the Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences to help fund a gift for the guest. In addition, the UVU Department of History and Political Science, as well as the Peace and Justice Studies, were contacted and they willingly contributed to the event as well.

Ambassador Malloy During the Meeting with Students at UVU

Agenda of the visit of Ambassador Malloy included a round-table-meeting with students titled: “Conversation on Foreign Service and Diplomacy.” During the meeting, Ambassador Malloy spoke briefly about her experiences in the Foreign Service followed by a Q&A. Students asked a variety of questions on subjects ranging from what skills are in demand for the State Department to how will families cope with traveling with the Foreign Service. At the end, she informed students that the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training has a program where interns can help preserve the oral history or previous ambassadors (http://adst.org/).

A great interest our guest had in Russian art gave us the idea to book a tour at the Springville Museum of Art in Utah which had a large display of Russian art (http://www.smofa.org/art-collections.php). Through careful planning, we were able to have the Director of the museum, Dr. Rita R. Wright, to give a personal tour of the Russian Exhibit. Here Ambassador Malloy showed her expertise in Russian art showing which art was most likely propaganda and which pieces were probably risky realism paintings that the state did not authorize. The meeting between Dr. Wright and Ambassador Malloy and the discussing of possible ways they could help each other, confirmed that we UVU students were able to set up positive building experiences for the community.

UIMF leadership with Ambassador Malloy

A few other examples of leadership coordination among students, UIMF members include:

Spencer Nilsson was placed in charge of the organization of the room where VIP guest would give her presentation. Spencer acquired microphones from the library and coordinated with other students to bring the backdrop, table, pamphlets, etc.

Regan Warner contacted the Women’s Success Center at UVU to give a special welcome to Eileen Malloy at the International Women’s Day activity. Here Dr. Anne R. Waipero, the Director of the Women’s Success Center greeted our distinguished guest and showed Ambassador Malloy the humanitarian efforts in girl’s hygiene the center held that day for the world-known NGO Days for Girls.Josman Cereceres is a representative of the UVU Student Association and coordinated a tour for the guest and coordinated with the UVU greenhouse manager to give her a tour of the greenhouse, an area many do not have the opportunity to visit.

Josman Cereceres is a representative of the UVU Student Association and coordinated a tour for the guest and coordinated with the UVU greenhouse manager to give her a tour of the greenhouse, an area many do not have the opportunity to visit.

Many more students have contributed to a successful visit of Ambassador Malloy. Her visit helped us as students learn more about what leadership and networking skills are. These skills are also essential in the political field. Thus, the activities of the UIMF better prepare students for a career in leadership and public service.

Matthew Rands, President, Foreign Affairs Club

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Brochure

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Agenda Final

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Task List

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UVU Press Release

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Photos of Ambassador Malloy Visit to UVU

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