1. AMERICAN WOMEN FOR
INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING
YO U T H C O N S O R T I U M & L E A D E R S H I P R O U N D TA B L E :
C A R E E R O P P O R T U N I T I E S F O R
I N T E R N AT I O N A L R E L AT I O N S
T H E N A T I O N A L P R E S S C L U B
W A S H I N G T O N , D . C .
M A R C H 4 , 2 0 1 5
ST U D E N T NA M E
Zaire Overton,
Co-Founder/Youth Coordinator

2. Through my work with the American Women for International Understanding (AWIU), I
quickly learned of their desire to expand their youth outreach programs. As an International
Relations major I had spent relentless hours researching internship, scholarship and career
options only to find that most involved politics on Capitol Hill… and access was crucial! The
idea to create a workshop that would not only explore the global cross-section of careers for IR
majors, but to also connect them to experts in these fields, and to offer it in conjunction with the
AWIU’s annual presentation of the International Women of Courage (IWOC) Awards in
Washington D.C. seemed far-reaching and a bit overwhelming. To my surprise, it was
accepted… we had six weeks to research, budget, prepare, book and mount a five-hour
workshop… the week before mid-terms!
With the AWIU Youth Outreach Coordinator as chair of our 3-man committee, the
inaugural Youth Consortium and Leadership Round Table; Career Opportunities for
International Relations was successfully launched on March 4, 2015 at Washington D.C’s
prestigious National Press Club. Our eleven panelists represented: The FBI, Homeland
Security, The State Department, Foreign Services, global health, World Bank, Peace Corps,
United Nations, Cyber Security and IR professors. This was a tremendous victory for our
scholars and young professionals; an opportunity to dialogue one-on-one with experts in their
future fields, many of whom have since offered to join our advisory board.
Founded in 1968, AWIU is a non-profit NGO whose mission is to build bridges of
understanding, good-will, and cooperation among women leaders throughout the world. For
seven years, AWIU has partnered with the U.S. Department of State and First Lady Michelle
Obama to honor their International Women of Courage (IWOC) awardees for exceptional
leadership and courage in advocating human rights, often against tremendous odds. The
evening gala followed our workshop, with the State Department’s presentations scheduled for
the next day. I was elated to hear that because of our success, I had been invited to attend the
limited seating program… only to wake up that morning to a freak snow storm that shut down
Washington, cancelling the event!
However; this experience was enriching beyond belief. It is easy to be overwhelmed by
the enormity of a concept, an initial idea… especially when it is your own. But it only requires
faith in yourself and fortitude to see it through. Still amazed and proud that at only nineteen I
have created a potential legacy event working alongside the Department of State, I am
AWIU 2015 Youth Consortium & Leadership Round Table:
Career Opportunities for International Relations

3. empowered by witnessing our country acknowledge and honor the global struggle of women.
And I remain hopeful that next year Michelle Obama’s encouragement will land on my ears. I
have no doubt stretched my imagination, challenged my leadership capabilities, broadened my
awareness and accepted the responsibility to make a difference in my community. Combining
this with my upcoming study abroad in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil this summer will no doubt better
prepare me for the world of IR. As I departed Washington, driving down Embassy Row, my
heart actually skipped a beat!
With my mother, Jayne Kennedy
Overton, who was the third part of
the co-founder committee and
served as panel moderator, and
my sister Savannah who assisted.
AWIU 2015 Youth Consortium & Leadership Round Table:
Career Opportunities for International Relations
A few of our speakers
with the 3 co-founders;
me, Diane and my mom.
.
At the Capitol Building
.
A few of the panelist with some of
our scholars and the event
Co-Chairs
First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House with the 2015 IWOC Award Winners Me at the Brazilian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

4. Jacob Bueno de
Mesquita: Global
Health and Pandemic
Disease
Dr. Abdul Karim
Bangura: Professor of
Research Methodology
and Public Policy
Dr. Michael Frasier:
Associate Professor of
International Security &
Public Administration
Carolyn Jordan:
Retired, Counsel USS
Senate Banking
Housing & Urban
Affairs
Christine Halvorsen:
FBI Section Chief,
Operational Support
Kimberly Harper:
Founder and Owner:
CyberwoodMedia.com
Internet Security
Shawn Dorman:
Editor in Chief, The
Foreign Services Journal
Ian Houston:
Executive Director,
American Foreign
Services
Ramona Harper:
US Dept. of State,
Recruiting Office,
Human Resources
Maria Longi:
Dept. of State, Director,
Office of Management
Policy & Resources
Not pictured above: Deanna Wallace: Homeland Security, Investigation Victim Assistance Specialist
Afghanistan: Captain
Niloofar Rahmani,
Afghan Air Force
Bangladesh: Nadia
Sharmeen, Journalist
Bolivia: Rosa Julieta
Montano Salvatierra,
Founder /Director,
Oficina Juridica para la
Mujer
Burma: May Sabe Phyu
Director, Gender Equality
Network
Central African
Republic: Beatrice
Epaye. President,
Fondation Voix du
Coeur
Guinea: Marie Claire
Tchecola. Emergency
Room Nurse, Donka
Hospital
Japan: Sayaka Osakabe
Founder/Representative,
Matahara Net
Kosovo: Arbana Xharra
Editor-in-Chief, Zeri
Pakistan: Tabassum
Adnan, Kwendo Jirga
(Sister’s Council), Swat,
Pakistan
Syria: Majd Chourbaji
External Relations
Director, Women Now
for Development
Centers
Congratulations 2015 International Women of Courage Award Recipients
Thank You 2015 Round Table Panel of Speakers
Committee:
Diane Mitchell Henry: Co-Founder, Chair, Coordinator
Jayne Kennedy Overton: Co-Founder, Coordinator Zaire Ollyea Overton: Co-Founder, Youth Coordinator
Diane McGlinchey Stelle Feuers Selena Norwood
Betty Houbian Barbara Rubio Hillary Andoh
Ellen Linsey Storme Sweet Lisa Cain

5. WELCOME
Youth Consortium & Leadership Round Table:
Career Opportunities for International Relations
Dear International Relations Students and Young Professionals,
Founded in 1968, American Women for International Understanding (AWIU) is a non-profit,
non-governmental organization whose mission is to build bridges of understanding, good-will,
and cooperation among women leaders throughout the world. For the past six years, AWIU has
been privileged and pleased to partner with the U.S. Department of State to honor their
International Women of Courage (IWOC) awardees selected for exceptional leadership and
courage in advocating women’s rights in their respective countries. AWIU is hosting the
8thAnnual International Women of Courage Celebration evening gala on March 4th at the
National Press Club in Washington, D.C. in recognition of these exemplary women.
This year, AWIU is proud to welcome you to its inaugural Youth Consortium and Leadership
Round Table: Career Opportunities for International Relations in conjunction with the IWOC
Celebration. The Round Table is an invitational event open to college students and young
professionals from across the United States interested in international affairs. This co-ed pilot
program allows attendees the opportunity to dialogue about career opportunities outside the
area of politics on Capitol Hill, but well within the realm of international relations, the world
agenda, and social ramifications of strengthening international relations. The panel for the
Round Table includes a diverse set of international relations professionals from governmental,
public and private organizations.
AWIU warmly welcomes you to these two events. Guests passes for students and young professionals
are included in the pack and must be worn at all times to attend the Youth Consortium and Leadership
Round Table: Career Opportunities for International Relations and observe the AWIU 8th
Annual
International Women of Courage Celebration at the National Press Club this evening. More information
is available by visiting our websites at: www.awiu.org and www.iwoccelebration.org. We thank you for
being a part of our first annual round table.
Very warm regards,
Diane Mitchell Henry Zaire Ollyea Overton
Diane Mitchell Henry, Coordinator Zaire Ollyea Overton, Co-Coordinator
International Women of Courage Youth Outreach Youth Consortium Leadership Round Table:
Youth Consortium Leadership Round Table: Career Career Opportunities for International
Opportunities for International Relations Co-Founder Relations Youth Co-Founder
(323) 292-7006 awiulacountychair@yahoo.com Zaire.ollyea@gmail.com
AMERICAN WOMEN FOR INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING 2100 South Wolf Road, Des Plaines, IL 60018 (847) 298–0442 www.awiu.org
The 8th Annual International Women of Courage Celebration
Presented by American Women for International Understanding
National Press Club, Washington, D.C.
March 4, 2015