On December 10 and 11, Iowa State University will host a virtual U.S. Future Leaders Topical Seminar for approximately 50 alumni of the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program. The seminar, focusing on cybersecurity, is part of the State Department’s ongoing effort to position Gilman alumni as future American leaders across public and private sectors in fields of importance to U.S. national security and economic prosperity.
Gilman alumni working in the field of cybersecurity will participate in virtual trainings designed to further develop their topical expertise and hone their leadership skills. They will also expand their professional networks through virtual engagements with U.S. leaders from the public and private sectors. Alumni will leave the virtual seminar with the industry knowledge and cross-cultural skills they need to further build their careers in cybersecurity.
“Gilman Scholars, whether through an internship or study abroad experience, gain critical skills to adapt and function in a cross-cultural environment,” said Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Marie Royce. “We are pleased to support our outstanding Gilman alumni through these career-enhancing initiatives.”
The Gilman Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by the Institute of International Education. The Gilman Program provides over 3,000 scholarships a year to outstanding American undergraduate students who, due to financial constraints, might not otherwise study abroad. Since the Program began in 2001, more than 30,000 Gilman scholars from all U.S. states and territories have studied in nearly 150 countries.
The Gilman Program has yielded extraordinary results in supporting first-generation college students, ethnic and racial minority students, students with disabilities, student veterans, students attending two-year and minority serving institutions, and other populations underrepresented in study abroad, as well as broadening the diversity of destinations where scholars study or intern.
“International education should be part of every student’s academic career,” said Secretary of State Michael Pompeo. “Educational exchanges, whether it’s Americans going overseas or foreigners coming to the U.S., are among the most important tools in our diplomatic arsenal.”
To learn more about the Gilman Program and how its diverse alumni are entering into impactful careers in the government, non-profit, and private sectors, contact eca-press@state.gov and visit www.gilmanscholarship.org.
To learn more about Iowa State University’s cyber security engineering major, visit https://www.ece.iastate.edu/cybersecurity/