On October 24, 2024, former U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe and Angola, Joseph Sullivan, visited Amador Valley High School to share insights from his career in foreign service. This event offered students interested in international diplomacy a chance to learn directly from a seasoned diplomat and marked the Geography Club’s new partnership with the U.S. Foreign Service Association.
“We contacted the high school foreign service association, and they connected us with Mr. Joseph Sullivan,” said Geography Club Co-President Abhinav Garg (‘25). “It’s a rare opportunity to hear about foreign service firsthand and understand a typical day in that field.”
Mr. Sullivan’s Journey
Sullivan’s path to international diplomacy was spontaneous, showing students that foreign service careers don’t require wealth or connections.
“I was the first in my family to go to college and hadn’t traveled much before then,” Sullivan shared. “But once I experienced it [overseas], I loved immersing myself in new cultures, always learning the language beforehand.”
Starting his career in Mexico, Sullivan learned Spanish in five months. Later, he transitioned smoothly to Portuguese and worked in Portugal during its shift from a dictatorship to a democracy.
“Portugal was undergoing a fascinating transformation, moving from isolation in Europe to becoming a fully integrated member of the European Union,” said Sullivan.
Students were particularly curious about Sullivan’s experiences in unstable regions like Cuba, Nicaragua, and Angola. Others wanted advice on pathways to foreign service careers, especially for international relations or global economics majors.
“Those taking the Foreign Service exam often choose fields like consular work, economics, politics, management, or public diplomacy,” Sullivan explained. “If you’re interested, I encourage you to explore careers at www.state.gov/careers.”
