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Doha
Sami Wehbe, an alumnus of Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q), recently organised a unique opportunity for Georgetown’s international alumni community to connect with a fellow graduate who is also a representative of the international diplomatic community, the United States Ambassador to Bulgaria HE Herro Mustafa.
Wehbe questioned the ambassador about how her academic experience at Georgetown prepared her for a diplomatic career that has included several overseas diplomatic postings and a role as senior adviser on the Middle East to then-Vice President Joe Biden. They also talked about her childhood as a Kurdish-Muslim refugee from Iraq, which was documented in the 2009 biographical documentary American Herro.
"Ambassador Mustafa’s personal story was truly inspirational, demonstrating that hard work and dedication can make the impossible possible,” said Wehbe, a Strategic Communications Consultant at public relations and communications firm BLJ Worldwide.
Wehbe, a polyglot who also speaks Arabic, Russian, and Bulgarian, is no stranger to the world of diplomacy. As an undergrad, the International Politics major founded, hosted, and produced the national tourism show ‘Around the World in 30 Minutes’ where he interviewed over 20 diplomatic leaders about their country’s tourism industry, history, cuisine and traditions, including the ambassadors of Canada, France, Japan, Germany, Italy, South Africa, and Brazil. He also co-hosted 200 episodes of the "Rise” daily morning show.
A walk past the US Embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria, where Wehbe lives, sparked the idea for his most recent diplomatic interview. "I was interested in learning more about the current US ambassador. When I discovered she was an SFS alumna, I contacted the Qatar Alumni Association Club and the US Embassy in Sofia to discuss the possibility of an engagement opportunity.”
The virtual discussion was open to all members of the Georgetown community, including alumni, current students, faculty, and staff from both the Doha and DC campuses. Dean Jaloudi, a Georgetown Law graduate and attorney, delivered the opening remarks as co-president of the alumni club.
"One thing I have noticed about fellow graduates from Doha and Washington, DC, is that they are always supportive and willing to share their life and career experiences with the community,” said Wehbe. "It is always a true pleasure to speak to fellow alumni, especially those in the well-respected positions that we as Hoyas all aspire towards, whether in diplomacy and politics, business, or the governmental or NGO sectors.”
Herro Mustafa, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, was confirmed as Ambassador to the Republic of Bulgaria by the United States Senate on September 26, 2019. She has received numerous State Department awards, including the Matilda W. Sinclaire Award for superior achievement in a foreign language. She is fluent in Portuguese, Arabic, Hindi, Russian, and Greek, among other languages, and is learning Bulgarian. Ambassador Mustafa received his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in Washington, DC, and his master’s degree from Princeton University.
Doha
Sami Wehbe, an alumnus of Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q), recently organised a unique opportunity for Georgetown’s international alumni community to connect with a fellow graduate who is also a representative of the international diplomatic community, the United States Ambassador to Bulgaria HE Herro Mustafa.
Wehbe questioned the ambassador about how her academic experience at Georgetown prepared her for a diplomatic career that has included several overseas diplomatic postings and a role as senior adviser on the Middle East to then-Vice President Joe Biden. They also talked about her childhood as a Kurdish-Muslim refugee from Iraq, which was documented in the 2009 biographical documentary American Herro.
"Ambassador Mustafa’s personal story was truly inspirational, demonstrating that hard work and dedication can make the impossible possible,” said Wehbe, a Strategic Communications Consultant at public relations and communications firm BLJ Worldwide.
Wehbe, a polyglot who also speaks Arabic, Russian, and Bulgarian, is no stranger to the world of diplomacy. As an undergrad, the International Politics major founded, hosted, and produced the national tourism show ‘Around the World in 30 Minutes’ where he interviewed over 20 diplomatic leaders about their country’s tourism industry, history, cuisine and traditions, including the ambassadors of Canada, France, Japan, Germany, Italy, South Africa, and Brazil. He also co-hosted 200 episodes of the "Rise” daily morning show.
A walk past the US Embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria, where Wehbe lives, sparked the idea for his most recent diplomatic interview. "I was interested in learning more about the current US ambassador. When I discovered she was an SFS alumna, I contacted the Qatar Alumni Association Club and the US Embassy in Sofia to discuss the possibility of an engagement opportunity.”
The virtual discussion was open to all members of the Georgetown community, including alumni, current students, faculty, and staff from both the Doha and DC campuses. Dean Jaloudi, a Georgetown Law graduate and attorney, delivered the opening remarks as co-president of the alumni club.
"One thing I have noticed about fellow graduates from Doha and Washington, DC, is that they are always supportive and willing to share their life and career experiences with the community,” said Wehbe. "It is always a true pleasure to speak to fellow alumni, especially those in the well-respected positions that we as Hoyas all aspire towards, whether in diplomacy and politics, business, or the governmental or NGO sectors.”
Herro Mustafa, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, was confirmed as Ambassador to the Republic of Bulgaria by the United States Senate on September 26, 2019. She has received numerous State Department awards, including the Matilda W. Sinclaire Award for superior achievement in a foreign language. She is fluent in Portuguese, Arabic, Hindi, Russian, and Greek, among other languages, and is learning Bulgarian. Ambassador Mustafa received his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in Washington, DC, and his master’s degree from Princeton University.